Last month, the Vodafone Festival of the Friendly North, which lasted a week, raised an impressive $327,000.
The festival committee president, Zaheen Ibrahim, expressed that the event’s success was the result of seven months of dedicated preparation by the organizers, volunteers, and sponsors, particularly the festival committee itself. Ms. Ibrahim announced this record fundraising amount during a thanksgiving event held on Saturday in Labasa. The festival took place at Subrail Park in Labasa from August 31 to September 7.
Notably, Ms. Ibrahim is the first woman to serve as president of the festival committee. She highlighted the strong bonds formed among committee members and volunteers as crucial to the festival’s success.
“It is a time to appreciate the hard work, resilience and dedication of our committee members,” she stated. “Our committee overcame all challenges during the preparation phase, and we acknowledge their efforts tonight.”
During the event, special plaques and certificates were awarded to committee members. Ms. Ibrahim also recognized major sponsors, particularly Vodafone Fiji, along with other corporate entities that contributed financially to the festival’s operations.
“Without our sponsors, this festival would not have been successful,” she reiterated.
She expressed hope for continued sponsorship in the future. The chief guest, Nilesh Singh, head of recharge and operations at Vodafone, confirmed the company’s commitment to maintaining their partnership, emphasizing the importance of community outreach.
Ms. Ibrahim noted that the festival successfully showcased high-quality performances by carefully selected contestants who demonstrated their skills throughout the week. She acknowledged the support from the families of contestants, who encouraged them to excel and perform at their best.
Some of the completed projects funded by the festival’s charity efforts include the construction of a washroom facility at Subrail Park ground two and the donation of musical equipment to Nabala Secondary School. Additional projects are set to begin soon.