Xiamen, China to Celebrate 100th Anniversary of Jimei School Village Funded by Tan Kah-Kee

XIAMEN, China, Sept. 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- 2013 marks the 100th anniversary of Jimei School Village, an educational complex in Xiamen, Fujian province, construction of which was funded by Tan Kah-Kee, a Chinese entrepreneur and philanthropist based in Southeast Asia. Xiamen will host a series of activities highlighting the complex on 21-22 October, featuring completion ceremonies for the 300 million yuan (approx. US$48 million) Jimei Hospital Kah-Kee Building, a joint venture investment by the municipal government of Xiamen and Jimei School Village Committee, and the 11 million yuan (approx.US$1.8 million) upgrade of Jimei Primary School building, among others.

Tan Kah-Kee, born in Jimei Village in 1874, joined his father's business at age 17, expanding it across Southeast Asia. Tan devoted himself to education and charity, donating almost all his earnings. Starting in 1913, he funded construction of a dozen schools in his hometown, which became known as Jimei School Village. He also funded the construction of schools and universities, including Xiamen University and Hwa Chong Institution. There are now schools as well as education-and-charity funds named after Tan in both Singapore and Malaysia.

All aspects of the 100th anniversary events were personally undertaken by Xiamen Mayor Liu Keqing. More than 500 guests worldwide, as well as over 1,700 alumni, teachers and student representatives have confirmed attendance. The agenda includes a commemoration meeting, an education achievements exhibition for the 100th anniversary, an international symposium on Tan Kah-Kee's research, a global Jimei alumni networking conference and a Chinese dragon boat race.

Lin Hanyi, vice director of the event preparatory committee and secretariat director said, "Tan Kah-Kee is a model for overseas Chinese giving back to the motherland and to society. The love that he felt for his home country and for his hometown as well as the charitable funding that he provided for the establishment of the schools is widely eulogized in both China and around the world. Since China's reform and opening up, the city of Xiamen has achieved much in the way of social and economic development as well as in education. We welcome our overseas compatriots and our friends from around the world to visit Xiamen and partake of the excellent investment environment as well as the unique tourism and educational resources that are available here."