Parachute: Spirits remain high despite downpour

Spirits remained high despite a thoroughly sodden World Vision site at Parachute Festival over Anniversary Weekend.

Over the course of the weekend, thousands of festival-goers decided to lend a hand supporting World Vision’s work in the Rwandan community of Tubehoneza.

It started on Friday, when a group of Upper Hutt teens arrived at Parachute Festival… by bike! The four cyclists, Michael Gray, Graeme Knowles, Stephen Loader and Kyle Nelson undertook the 1022km journey to Parachute Festival and back to raise money for hospital beds for the new health centre within World Vision’s long-term development programme in Tubehoneza, Rwanda. 

The sun was out on Saturday morning as festival-goers generously donated $48,000 to build a nutrition clinic within the facilities of the Tubehoneza Health Centre.

Later that day, thousands gathered in the Palladium to hear tales from the poverty front line from World Vision Ambassador, Petra Bagust and Youth Ambassadors, Amelia MacDonald and Andrew McIndoe, who have just returned from Cambodia. This was followed by a Q&A session with World Vision’s new Director of International Programmes, Seth Le Leu.

While the sunshine remained, a crew of world renowned graffiti artists volunteered their time to create a visual expression celebrating the two-decade partnership between World Vision and Parachute.

Despite torrential rain on Sunday, Youth Affairs Minister, Paula Bennett took time out to visit the World Vision site. She met the World Vision and Sanitarium Youth Ambassadors who gave her tips for her upcoming 40 Hour Famine and took her through the One Life experience.

Over the course of the weekend, almost 3000 festival-goers found out what life is like for children and families in communities living with HIV and AIDS in Africa through the interactive One Life Experience.

Festival-goers also decided to lend a hand by signing up to sponsor 223 children from Rwanda and 67 Children in Crisis pledges.