Music for kindness: Helena's story

Piano teacher Helena Aung and her best friends Sheila Pietono and Hsiu Ting Chen recently held a recital fundraiser for ChildFund. They raised $400 to support children all over the world.

One hot, sunny afternoon in Austin, Texas, a handful of piano students dressed their best, headed to the local Steinway Piano Gallery and took to the stage to show off their skills for parents, relatives and friends. There was something extra special about this small, seemingly ordinary recital: It doubled as a fundraiser to support children worldwide.

The children’s piano teacher, Helena Aung, has lived all over the world – in the UK, Cambodia, Laos, the United States and now, most recently, Canada. Her travels have given her a unique perspective on life and on childhood, in particular.

“Both my parents used to work with the United Nations,” Helena says. “We traveled a lot. I got to see firsthand how there are children in need. I have been to school with them. My dad liked for me to see the rural areas and say, you know, how lucky you are to be able to have this education.

“With that kind of background, I think that already tells you off the bat why I support ChildFund.”

Giving back to children

After all, there are many ways to be a ChildFund supporter, whether through child sponsorship, monthly giving or philanthropy. Hosting fundraisers like these is Helena’s personal favorite way to make a difference in the world through ChildFund and other charities she supports.

“I’m not good at hosting parties, but I’m good at hosting recitals,” she laughs. “I do believe in giving back once you have received, because when you do good things, you get good things.”

Helena feels fortunate to have had the life she’s had. After she grew up, she attended university in the United States, where she received her DMA in Piano Performance. “I became a pianist and taught at music institutions and universities, and now I run my own program,” she says – teaching children and adults alike how to play. Today, she teaches mostly remotely and has students from all over the world. She especially enjoys teaching children.

“Children are more pure,” Helena says. “It’s not a negative thing to see kids cry or kids being emotional. They’re actually telling you the truth. I appreciate teaching kids because of that transparency. I learn so much from them, and it makes me a better teacher.”

Helena with her students, siblings Riya and Tavin.

Helena and her fellow teachers with their student Camila.

After 11 years in the U.S., Helena decided it was time to move again, this time to Canada – but not before doing something special to celebrate her local piano students and her own gratitude for her success in life. She and two of her best friends, who also play, collaborated to come up with the idea of a recital.

“Since I was leaving the U.S., we were all really sad and wanted to play piano together,” Helena says. “We came together with a program, but I wanted to leave room to showcase my local students who were working with me at the time. I wanted them to remember the work they did, and I knew it would be even more special if we did it for a good cause.” For the recital entrance fee, they decided to charge a suggested donation of $5 per person or $10 per family at the door, with the proceeds going to ChildFund.

It ended up being a memorable event for all – not just for Helena and her friends, but for the children, parents and relatives who gathered to celebrate the kids’ musical progress. And it raised $400 to support children’s greatest needs around the world, like nutritious meals, clean water, health care, protection from violence and – Helena’s personal special interest – education.

Several hundred dollars might seem like a drop in the bucket of all the need in the world. But, as Helena puts it, “If you can give $5 that can help one child, would you do it? You cannot help everyone, but can you help one person? Then that’s good enough. If you can, do it.”

Helena plays alongside her student Ariya at the recital.

Endings and new beginnings

What’s next for Helena? She’ll continue teaching in Canada, especially remotely, as well as serving on the piano faculty at the University of British Columbia. Making musical education more accessible to everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic background, is important to her.

“I wanted to learn more from my students, and I want to connect my students. I think education can be connective throughout the world. Just because, for example, you live in the middle of nowhere in Southeast Asia, you shouldn’t be held back from getting the education that other people have in the U.S.”

And she’ll carry the memory of her final concert in Austin forever.

“It was a good, sweet end of my chapter in the U.S. And something for a good cause that can be remembered and cherished in so many people’s lives and musical journeys.”

If you’d like to host a fundraising event for ChildFund, contact us at 1-800-776-6767 or questions@childfund.org to share your ideas. Whether you raise a few dollars or a few thousand, you’ll make more of a difference for children than you can imagine.