From left: Han Htoo Lwin, Mg Mg Zaw Latt, L Lune War and Aung Myat Thar.

IT WAS pouring rain on June 6 when a group of celebrities, charity workers and AIDS rights advocates packed into Mr Guitar for an afternoon of music and poetry.

Despite the rain and the topic, everyone seemed exceptionally cheerful at the Happy Heaven Humanitarian Project day, which was held to raise money for orphans suffering from HIV/AIDS.

“This is the third time we have held this event,” said organiser and famous artist Ma Chaw Ei Thein. “We have raised K3 million today in donations alone.”
The day was an emotional one, evoking feelings of sympathy and, at the same time, exhilaration for such a worthy cause.

Chaw Ei Thein set the scene with actor Ye Wai Yan by reciting poems by candlelight before introducing the day’s lineup.

While volunteers recited original and well known poems to the audience, Lazy Club’s Naing Zaw strummed a tune in the background alongside Leonard Mg Mg Lwin, organ player for Emperor, Aung Myat Thar, bass guitarist for BPM, and violinist Chan Hein Kywe.

Actor Lwin Moe and singer Ye Lay joined in with their own poems about humanitarian causes and drew a few tears from the attentive audience.

But the most engaging act of the day had to be Han Htoo Lwin, who sang about the lives of orphaned children and their deceased parents, existing in a world beyond our own.

He was backed up by singers Mg Mg Zaw Latt and L Lune War.
Chit Thu Wai entertained the crowd with heart-wrenching words on taking care of Myanmar’s children.

Chaw Ei Thein then announced the names of the largest donators and how much they had given to the charity.

Happy Heaven aims to relieve the physical, emotional and spiritual suffering of children infected with HIV/AIDS by providing care for sufferers free of charge. The poetry reading is held annually.