IT was a case of starting them young when 1,035 preschoolers assembled for a song-and-dance fundraiser as they also performed their way into the Malaysia Book of Records.

The National One Child One Hope Charity Concert, co-organised by Smart Reader Worldwide and the Association of Professional Early Childhood Providers Malaysia (APECP), saw a  record-breaking "most number of children performing in a charity concert".

In recognition of this feat, Datuk Danny Ooi, founder and managing director of the Malaysia Book of Records, presented the mock certificate to Dr K. H. Wang, group executive director of Smart Reader Worldwide Sdn Bhd, and its chief executive officer, Dr Richard Ong.

Witnessing the presentation were royal guests-of-honour the Raja Muda  Perlis, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail, and Raja Puan Muda Perlis, Tuanku Lailatul Shahreen Akashah Khalil (who is also APECP's royal patron).

The concert, held at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, aimed to raise money for converting the National One Child One Hope Education Scholarship Programme into a foundation.

The programme, set up by Smart Reader Worldwide, offers underprivileged preschoolers the opportunity to experience quality pre-school education at its centres nationwide, thereby providing them with a strong foundation in education.

To date, the programme has benefited more than 300 children nationwide, who  received full sponsorship for school fees, uniforms, books and other learning materials. It aims to help 1,000 less fortunate children this year.

In tandem with this, Smart Reader Worldwide is working with Yaysan Tuanku Syed Putra and Yayasan Di Raja Sultan Mizan to identify  underprivileged children in Perlis and Terengganu, respectively.

At the charity concert, the children who were students of the Smart Reader Kids Centres nationwide, were a cute, chirpy and cherubic lot as they entertained  guests with their choreographed routines that included themes such as Pride of Malaysia, and Let's Dance.

They also served as  dancers to local artistes Adibah Noor, Zamil Idris (both of whom also did double duty as emcees), violinist Dr Joanne Yeoh and Miss Malaysia/World 2011 Chloe Chen.

In conjunction with the concert, Smart Reader Worldwide and APECP also launched a CD and a book of quotes entitled Let's Celebrate Life.

The CD contains a collection of soothing songs, uplifting music and inspirational lyrics written by Wang.

The book aims to create an enthusiasm for living life to the fullest.