This page celebrates the wonderful fundraising efforts of many of our friends in Australia.

It is wonderful to see so many good ideas, so much energy and fun being created in order to raise funds for Alola.

From one of our supporters:

Dear treasurer,

 On Friday 16th March 2007 I will be making a donation via bank deposit to Alola Foundation to the value of $580.60 which will be followed by an amount of $147.00 which I have paid into AFAP and indicated that I want it to be forwarded to your organisation.

 I would like this total of $727.60 cents to be put towards the purchase of maternity packs.

 The money was raised in two different ways. The larger sum was raised by making yummy cakes for morning tea and charging $3 per slice, selling homemade marmalade, and selling off second hand jewellery, CDs and books. The smaller amount was a donation from one of my colleagues, Ms Sally Roach, who suggested that instead of a farewell gift from her workplace, that the money collected for a gift be donated to the Alola Foundation instead.

 I started this fundraising after that same colleague returned from a conference in Darwin in 2005 where she had heard Kirsty Gusmoa Sword speak. I was horrified by the problems faced by Timorese women. Some time ago I had donated by grandmother’s treadle sewing machine to the women of East Timor and when I bought a new machine I thought I would start sewing bunny rugs myself. When I offered to do so I was told that sending money was more important so that’s what I’m doing now.

 A few weeks ago my elderly mother made about twenty pots of fig jam which I am in the process of converting into more cash and so, like last year, I will just save it up until the end of the year and send the cheque through to you then. In a month or so, I will start making marmalade again which I will add to the kitty.

 We have so much in this country I only wish there was more that I could do to help out - especially in the light of the current trouble in EAST Timor.

 Lea Redding

Our Response:

Dear Lea,

It was with great appreciation and joy that I read your email. It is wonderful to hear of the efforts you have made once you heard of women and children’s situation in Timor-Leste. It is of particular note that you have turned your feelings and thoughts into action and also that you have been so responsive to our request for funding rather than goods.

It has been really wonderful to employ more staff in the last 12 months thanks to increases in donations and to see the satisfaction and benefits these women have found through employment and sewing more items to assist other women and children. Some of these women have never had a paid position before and are very grateful for the opportunity of work and to increase their capacity and experience.

Thank you for your creativity and efforts in raising this money. Please also pass on our great appreciation to your mother and Sally Roach for their generosity and thoughtfulness.

With kind regards and solidarity,

Jenni Graves

Maternal and Child Health Program Manager

Belly Dancing for Maternity Packs!

Dear Kirsty
 
Thank you very much for the message you sent for the Brisbane Alola Foundation Fundraiser, which we hosted in March 2007 in Brisbane, Australia.  Your message was read aloud during the evening and added real substance to the night. Your personable approach was very well received. 

We were delighted to find that our local fundraising event raised over $3,000 for the Maternity Packs Project. When my Mum and I, and our friend Carol decided to organise the event, our goal was to raise enough money on the night to fund 50 packs. Thanks to the generosity of guests on the night, support from sponsors, (and a bit of haggling with raffle tickets) we raised enough money to fund 120 Maternity Packs.
 
While I know our local monetary contribution is small in comparison to the needs in your country, one of the overarching positives of the night was the awareness it raised about the current situation in East Timor, and the wonderful work that Alola Foundation is undertaking to support local women. I am confident that many of the 120 Brisbane guests left the evening as ambassadors' for the Alola Foundation and Maternity Packs Project.

Our interest in organising a fundraiser for the Alola Foundation came after we attended the 2006 UNIFEM International Women's Day Breakfast and heard you speak about life in East Timor, as well as the Maternity Pack project, an initiative of the Aoloa Foundation. 
 
We were quite taken by the story and our hope in hosting the fundraiser is to raise enough money to fund 50 of these maternity packs. We are well on track to meet this target.  
 
We have advertised the event through our local networks and gained the support of local businesses and Members of Parliament in the area.

I have attached a PDF invitation attachment for more information about our fundraising event. 

I have attached some photos of the guests and frivolity during the evening for your information.

Thank you again for your time and work, and we look forward to supporting Alola Foundation in the future.
 
Kind regards
Amity