My name is Lynette and I just wanted to share my experience of being a host of an Eat So They Can event. I heard about this campaign of raising awareness and funds via Eliza and Caitie who came to Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand and gave us a great presentation on GVN Foundation and their current fund raising drive.
I really liked the idea of hosting a dinner that was to raise funds for projects and this initiative felt like it had a very positive feeling to it. It is not about highlighting the ‘lack of’ but to celebrate the potential and the possibility of change, empowering people and making a difference. We can all do something to help our fellow men and women and we can do it with others e.g. by getting together and discussing issues that affect many people over dinner or a morning tea. It can be difficult for people to get involved if they think they have to make a sacrifice (even a meal) but with the emphasis of sharing a meal with others, you are encouraging communication and closer connections between people.
I became the unofficial organiser and then official host of my development class dinner and it was decided with assignments due we would hold our dinner the evening of the 23rd October. It was wonderful to be able to combine ESTC with a get together of my class mates, as for us it was end of classes and nearly the end of our course work. We had ten people attend our pot luck dinner and I must say for some hard up students, we had a banquet. Home made dishes, vegetarian and meat main courses and wonderful tasty and fantastic looking desserts. I had some ESTC resources on the table and they were a great talking point and made a change from discussing our university assignments!
We all gave what cash donations we could afford and with donations from my Mum and Dad in Nelson and my Osteopath in Wellington, we raised a grand total of $119.40. I am so grateful to everyone who attended the wonderful evening and of course to those who donated funds to ESTC. It is a testament to the generous nature of people, that even those living on small incomes and with little disposable cash can raise funds and help make a difference. Every donation large or small is appreciated and will assist in the continuation of these important projects. Our donation will be going towards Women’s Empowerment projects and I am sure the money will be well used.
It was great to be a host of ESTC and now to be interning at GVN Foundation with part of my job to process the donations that have come in from the events. It has been great to be part of the bigger picture and to be involved in the positive global movement of ESTC.
Cheers from Lynette
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