BBC Interview - YoKu

YoKu on UK National Inspire Day (From left: Andy Worthington – Chairman of the North West 2012 Steering Group;
Xiao Fu - Director of YoKu; Sarah Case-Upton – North West Inspire Programmer)

What can you tell us about this project?

Yoku is a charitable project based in South Manchester, specialising in heritage arts and culture excellence. Our aims to provide equal opportunity for children to learn and shine, improving their art potential and cross culture skills in fun. As part of London 2012 Inspire programme, we distribute Olympic spirits and cultural excellence through a series of activities for everyone to get involved in this memorable event.

What did you set out to accomplish with this project?

We have organised a series of activities open freely to children, which include children’s choirs performing bilingual Olympic songs, Tai Chi tutorial, Olympic Quiz’s and Calligraphy

What have you learned from running this project?

There is urgent requirement and demand to build cultural excellence in local community, by educate teenagers with peaceful world art, which would cancel negative impact of sex, violence, and profanity from unauthorized sources.

Will this project continue beyond 2012? 

It will continue as cultural, aerobic and science activities for everyone, e.g. we are negotiating with IEEE Woman Engineer society to run “science day” project in 2013, aiming to give school girls with opportunity learn the “Science Behind Health” to awake their awareness on health.

Tell us in your own words how you’ve been inspired by London 2012?

It is not only a great event but also an opportunity to build 'health' community with cultural excellence

Can you describe how your project was inspired by the Games?

Yoku Youth Club in Walthew House

The Game acknowledges the whole UK welcoming the world with sharing and understanding of different cultures. The project is initialised as a children choir and we articulated any external change and align my strategic plan to maximise the inspirit influence. For example, there have been calligraphy / Taichi session run in Stockport for children with sense loss, which is aimed to give equal opportunities with everyone to get involved. Also, aware of the regional discrepancies within Greater Manchester, We are currently negotiating with local MP to organise a few free activities for children in Brinnington region. Please find the details on our website <http://www.yoku.orgfree.com/.

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