Last month’s Vodafone Festival of the Friendly North successfully raised $327,000 during its week-long celebration.
Festival committee president Zaheen Ibrahim stated that the extensive planning over the past seven months proved to be fruitful for the organizers, volunteers, and sponsors, particularly the festival committee. This record amount was revealed during a thanksgiving event held in Labasa on Saturday. The festival took place at Subrail Park from August 31 to September 7.
As the first female president of the festival committee, Ms. Ibrahim expressed her gratitude for the friendships built with volunteers that contributed to the festival’s success. “Tonight is a moment to recognize the hard work, resilience, and dedication of our committee members,” she remarked. She highlighted how the committee navigated various challenges during the planning stages and commended their efforts.
At the event, special plaques and certificates were awarded to committee members, and Ms. Ibrahim acknowledged Vodafone Fiji and other corporate sponsors for their financial support, emphasizing that their contributions were vital to the festival’s success.
Ms. Ibrahim expressed hope for continued sponsorship in the future. Nilesh Singh, Vodafone’s head of recharge and operations, assured attendees that their partnership would persist, underlining the importance of community outreach.
She also praised the quality of the performers, noting that the selection of contestants enhanced the overall standard of the festival. Additionally, she recognized the families of the contestants for their encouragement in helping them perform at their best.
Funds from the festival’s charity initiatives have already been utilized for projects such as building restroom facilities at Subrail Park and providing musical equipment to Nabala Secondary School, with more projects set to begin soon.