One of the Fatu Feu’u paintings that will be auctioned at Voices 4 Vanuatu fundraisertomorrow night at Home Café,
Lelata.
PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
30 March 2015
Heading: Samoans rally to help desperate Vanuatu
BEGINS
It is a case of the Pacific helping the Pacific with Samoans rallying to support a local fundraiser for cyclone
devastated Vanuatu.
Almost $15,000 worth of prizes has been donated for the Voices 4 Vanuatu open mic event, which will be hosted by Home
Café tomorrow evening.
Event co-organiser Faumuina Felolini Tafunai says each prize is a significant gesture of support and love. “We are being
told that Vanuatu is now really desperate for assistance, and for us the way we can help is to raise money and give that
to Samoan Red Cross Society so they can add it to their relief efforts.”
Organisers are hoping to raise money through door sales, a raffle, a sausage sizzle and a silent auction. The auction
features artworks from renowned Samoan artist Fatu Feu’u, a weekend for two at Sinalei Resort and Spa, and a gift
voucher from Manamea Art tattoo studio, paintings from Wendy Percival and a donated artwork from Enid Westerlund.
“Our raffle has attracted more than almost 40 individual prizes that we have put into bundles so there will be lots of
winners on the night,” says Faumina.
“For all the donations we have received, we can only say thank you, thank you, thank you for everyone’s kindness. We are
also grateful to Digicel and Magik FM for promoting our fundraiser.”
She says most people are also happy to support the event through buying raffle tickets and with only one night to go the
organisers are selling tickets to everyone they see.
The organisers, which also include Enid Westerlund, Suisala Mele Maualaivao and Nicola Mills, say they have been told
that members of the local Vanuatu community will be performing at the open mic, as will Lani Wendt Young, the Apia Hash
Group, and other local writers and performing artists.
“With open mic events, people turn up and give us their names and what they are going to perform,” says Faumuina. “It’s
a bit spontaneous and a way to support our local writers and singers and build their confidence in performing their own
original material.
“For Voices 4 Vanuatu, we have opened it up a bit more to include people who want to perform to support the fundraiser,
so if that is you, please come down.”
The fundraiser starts at 6pm. Cover charge is $5. Raffle tickets can be bought on the night.
The organisers would like to thank: Charlie Westerlund, Digicel, Farmer Joe’s, Fatu Feu’u, Home Café, Janet’s, Lani
Wendt Young, Magik FM, Maotamaa Beach Fales, Misiluki Day Spa, On the Rocks Bar, Palusami Restaurant, Pele Project, R Mackenzie, Roko’s Restaurant, Roseberg Clinic, Sinalei Reef Resort & Spa, Stevensons at Manase, Vanya Taulealo Gallery, Wendy Percival and Women in Business Development.