Sunday marked International Children's Day. A group of kids from the Beijing Children's Palace tried to make their day a little more meaningful. At the National Museum of Fine Arts, they joined migrant workers from Sichuan in an effort to ease the pain of their peers who suffered from the effects of the deadly earthquake.

It's a different Children's Day for everyone present at Sunday's ceremony. Thirty students from the Beijing Children's Palace and from nine primary schools took up brushes in an expression of hope and goodwill toward those who have little chance to enjoy this special day. With smudged fingers, students painted on canvas alongside Sichuan migrant workers.

Every stroke contributes to a grand picture dedicated to the most talked-about issue of the day.

At the opening ceremony, 200 students from eight Beijing primary schools shouted support for the children of Sichuan.

Ren Futong said, "We are here to send comfort to all children in Sichuan. We'd like them to know that we care and love them far away in Beijing."

Shen Wenxin said, "I donated all my savings, that's 100 yuan to the earthquake victims."

The National Museum of Fine Arts has designed 100 painting kits for the occasion. The kits will be delivered to Sichuan along with 2000 sets of crayons and the painting. The project is undertaken by the China Children and Youth Funds.

Fan Di'an, curator of National Museum of Fine Arts, said, "It's generally believed art can heal and comforts the soul. People around the country have come up with different ways to relieve the pain of survivors. On Children's Day, these kids used their imaginations to send greetings to children in the affected areas. It's a vivid lesson for everyone that art can be beneficial to society in hard times."

It may not be as sunny a Children's Day as in previous years in Sichuan. But students of Beijing hope their efforts will offer the light of friendship for those who must now rebuild their lives.

(CCTV June 3, 2008)