Book sales raise money for charity

Going once: The oil-on-canvas painting The Sacred Mission by artist Dinh Quan was auctioned at a price equivalent to 1,500 self-improvement books entitled Hieu Ve Trai Tim (Understanding the Heart), by Zen master Minh Niem during the charity event on Friday night. — VNS Photo

HA NOI — Nearly 8,000 copies of the self-improvement book, Hieu Ve Trai Tim (Understanding the Heart) by Zen master Minh Niem were sold to raise money for heart and cleft palate surgeries of poor children during a charity auction in Ha Noi on Friday night.

The charity event, with the theme Ket Noi Nhung Trai Tim (Heart Link) was a part of Understanding the Heart Programme (UHP) run by two popular actors, Quyen Linh and Chi Bao.

The oil-on-canvas painting, Thien Chuc Vi Dai (The Sacred Mission) by artist Dinh Quan contributed a significant amount to the programme when the artwork was auctioned at a price equivalent to 1,500 books.

According to Bao, deputy president and manager of the UHP, all the money from the books, will be used for the charity projects focusing the children in the North.

Since the book's launch on July 15 last year, 59,000 copies were sold. The 50 psychoanalytical stories featuring in the Understanding the Heart are simple and practical but profound, guiding youth to look into their souls.

"The book is not only for the youth, through it parents can also understand more of the psychology of young people, which creates closer connections between the two generations," said Bao.

During the Friday event, Bao also revealed a plan to publish the book in the US in October.

"The English-version of the book is the first step to approaching international communities; it's a call for assistance for the UHP," Bao said.

Besides the books, the UHP will also design a talkshow series for Understanding the Heart to take place at five universities in Ha Noi from September to December. The talkshow will help young people explore different life values and improve their social-emotional skills for greater confidence and understanding in their lives.

On Friday night, the UHP announced its donation of VND580 million (US$29,000) to the Vu A Dinh Education Encouragement Fund, VND100 million ($5,000) to Operation Smile, VND500 million ($25,000) to the Ninh Binh Social Sponsoring Centre and the Ha Noi-based Sao Mai Orphanage Centre.

The UHP received nearly VND2 billion from kind-hearted donators, including the Mercedes Benz Vietnam, the Van Phu Real Estate Company, and the La Vong Corporation on the same day. — VNS