Vanuatu relief concert raises money and the roof

Around 250 people attended a very successful concert in the Hunter Lounge last Friday night to raise funds for Vanuatu following the damage by Cyclone Pam.

Together with other fundraising efforts, including a University-wide bucket collection, over $10,000 was raised at Victoria on Friday. 

The money collected will be going towards an education-related rebuild initiative, with collections and fund-raising continuing. Organisers have set a goal of raising $20,000 or more by the end of this week. 

“It’s incredibly sad to see the devastation to people’s homes, the roads and infrastructure in Vanuatu,” says Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Pasifika) Associate Professor Hon Luamanuvao Laban. 

“Our Pacifika community at Victoria, the wider student community, and staff have shown they can pull together quickly to support a community in need. It has been an incredibly humbling experience. I am not aware of any other University in New Zealand with a similar initiative, so I am very proud of the Victoria community.” 

Dr Pala Molisa, a lecturer in the Victoria Business School, is from Vanuatu and has been a pivotal connection between the Wellington Vanuatu community and Victoria. 

“The old saying ‘out of adversity comes opportunity’ has certainly been borne out by what has happened at Victoria and in Wellington through the community’s efforts to support Vanuatu,” says Dr Molisa. 

“It’s been humbling and we’re so grateful to see people who have organically come together to help the Vanuatu community. For example, a staff member in the School of Chemical and Physical Sciences got in touch with us and spontaneously organised a bake sale in the Hub, raising over $900 for Vanuatu.”

You can pledge your support for Vanuatu by donating to the bank account that has been set up: 
VUW Pasifika Supports Vanuatu
ANZ 06-0606-0272676–01