When Sechelt’s Sabrina Samy heard about the massive cyclone that hit Fiji, leaving tens of thousands homeless, including some of her family members, she felt the need to help in some way.
Sensing that others wanted an opportunity to help as well, she came up with a plan to hold a local Fijian dinner and dance fundraiser, scheduled for April 16 from 6 p.m. to midnight at the Sechelt Nation community hall.
“I come from a big family and when we throw events in our community, what has been really popular is doing a dinner and dance,” Samy said, noting she thought it would be a good way to raise money for those still suffering in Fiji.
Although the cyclone hit Fiji on Feb. 20, many are still struggling with a lack of housing, food and clean water and officials suggest it could take a year or more to rebuild.
“I’m Fijian and so are my parents and so are my grandparents, and I still have family there,” Samy said.
“My mother-in-law’s parent’s house had their kitchen roof and the majority of their house just kind of blow off, and they were hiding underneath beds and it was really quite devastating.”
Her family members are now back in what’s left of their dishevelled homes trying to make do with makeshift roofs and walls that were torn down by the cyclone, but tens of thousands have nothing to return to. It’s estimated there are about 35,000 people currently living in evacuation centres in Fiji.
In order to raise money for the Fijian Government Cyclone Relief Fund, Samy plans to bring a bit of her Fijian culture to the Coast through her dinner and dance fundraiser that offers a large Fijian feast, Fijian dancers and singers and one free drink per person for the $50 ticket price.
Guests at the event will also be entered to win various door prizes and have the chance to take advantage of 50/50 draws and raffles running throughout the evening. Samy is asking people to bring a bottle of wine if they want to get in on the wine-wall draw and any non-perishable food or personal hygiene items they might want to donate to the relief effort.
Samy is in touch with a person in the Lower Mainland who plans to send two shipping containers full of goods to Fiji by the end of April.
She hopes the community will come out in force to support the event and perhaps learn a bit more about the Fijian people they are trying to help.
“I really want to be able to bring Fiji to the Sunshine Coast and show people who we are and what our culture is,” Samy said.
The Sechelt Nation has come alongside Samy to help put on the event at the Sechelt Nation community hall because “we as Aboriginals around the world have to help one another,” said Sechelt Nation Chief Calvin Craigan.
Tickets will be available until April 10, as Samy said organizers need a head count before they start preparing food for the April 16 event.
Tickets are available in Gibsons at Wow! Art Café, Fashion Box or Laedeli Gifts and Cards at Sunnycrest Mall and in Sechelt at Paul’s Paintin’ Place. Tickets can also be purchased by calling Samy at 604-989-1341.
