03 October 2008

The Parents' Bazaar at Sakura Festival

By Shirley Ghozalli. Edited by Moira Blake

The students, parents and staff helpers among the goods received from Japan

The "Parents' Bazaar" tent

As last year, a charity bazaar was organised at this year’s Sakura Festival on 20th September 2008. The parents of some IPC students organized this bazaar. In answer to the appeal for donations through the Japanese newsletter "Aotea Press" and IPC's website, 27 boxes of goods arrived at IPC. The boxes were filled with various Japanese goods, soft toys, clothes, bags and other items for small children. Shouts of joy could be heard from the students who helped to unpack the boxes. Not only the students, but also the staff delivering stationery to the main office, who also helped to collect up the big boxes, were fascinated by the content of the boxes.

Mrs Oda (left) and Mrs Hara presenting the cheque to Joan Petersen from the Cancer Society

Early in the morning on the festival day, the visiting parents and their sons and daughters were already busy at the tent arranging the goods and attaching price tags. The popularity of the rare Japanese goods ensured that the tent was extremely crowded soon after it opened. The goods, piled high at the beginning of the day, were almost completely sold out by 4 pm.

This bazaar brought in NZ$ 1,138.50 = about 83,000 Japanese yen. On 22nd September, two representatives of the parents donated a cheque for the total proceeds to the Manawatu branch of the Cancer Society.

"Just like last year, we are very grateful. We are so moved by the support the Japanese parents give to our organization. I was very surprised when I saw the amount of the cheque," said Joan Petersen on receiving the cheque on behalf of the Cancer Society.

The bazaar organizers, Mrs Oda and Mrs Hara, told the visitors to the bazaar tent, "We are going to have a bazaar next year too. So see you next time!" They are already full of ideas for next year.

Thank you very much to all who made donations!

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