LONDON, June 2026 — Year 11 student and founder of Girl Rise Global, a London-based GirlUp community club, Shirley Chen, brought her heartfelt charity vocal concert Shirley and Friends: Sing for Change, Stand for Girls to central London, following a successful debut charity performance staged earlier in Hong Kong.
Through the power of music, the young artist is rallying local communities to promote equitable education for girls and deliver targeted support to vulnerable orphans in Kenya.
As a core leader of London’s GirlUp community club, Shirley has long dedicated herself to the mission of uplifting young women worldwide. Inspired by the transformative impact of her first charity concert in Hong Kong, she resolved to stage a second musical event in London, uniting fellow young performers under a shared goal: turning melodies into tangible hope for marginalized children who lack access to quality learning resources.
On 28 June 2026, the charity concert featured an uplifting lineup of vocal performances crafted by Shirley and her fellow young musician friends. All donations will support two vital charitable causes: GirlUp and the Achungo Children’s Centre in Kenya.
GirlUp, a global initiative that empowers girls through accessible education, leadership training and equal-opportunity advocacy, which closely aligns with Shirley’s core vision of breaking gender barriers for young females across regions.
Since its establishment, the organization has continuously gathered the strength of young people in the community, united like-minded teenagers and social volunteers, and spread the concept of educational equity through various innovative public welfare activities.
A total of $1,977 raised from the concert has been directed to Achungo Children’s Centre, where the funds will provide essential daily care, comprehensive support and formal schooling for disadvantaged Kenyan orphans. To sustain long-term assistance for the Kenyan facility, Shirley independently launched a dedicated donation page, opening a lasting channel for global well-wishers to fund long-term educational opportunities for vulnerable orphaned youth in Africa.
“Music is a universal language that bridges distance and difference, and I believe young people hold immense power to drive meaningful change,” Shirley shared, explaining her motivation for launching the dual-city concert series.
As the London charity concert drew to a wonderful close, Shirley extended her sincere gratitude to all music lovers, children’s rights advocates and local community attendees for joining this heartwarming afternoon gathering brimming with“music, hope, and impact.” Through the charity concert initiative Shirley and Friends, she keeps showing the world that unified young voices can generate profound, long-lasting positive change for vulnerable children across the globe.
Shirley and her team have always firmly believed that education is the most powerful force to change fates and transform lives. With every beautiful musical note, every sincere voice of advocacy, and every small act of generosity, they are continuously delivering youthful warmth and strength to global educational equity, helping more disadvantaged children embrace the possibility of a better future through education.
