Now in it’s 17th year, another Parachute has been and gone. Always more than just about music and good times, many more lives were changed over the weekend.  Over 400 children from the Tubehoneza community in Rwanda were sponsored and approximately $60,000 was collected to build three fully equipped classrooms in the community.

“Parachute is not just about music and having a good time. For the community of Tubehoneza, it’s about a building a better future for their children”, says World Vision CEO, Lisa Cescon. “We are always thrilled with the generosity of those who attend Parachute, and this year was no different. The impact of all those children sponsored and building three classrooms in Tubehoneza will be huge”.

The Parachute Band visited Tubehoneza in late 2007 and saw for themselves the five water tanks built with the offering funds from Parachute 07. They reported back on their life-changing trip during the Saturday morning main stage meeting, showing the direct result of people’s generosity the previous year.

“Our couple of days in Rwanda were simply life-changing. Thanks to what World Vision is achieving with the help of regular Kiwis, Rwanda – and so many other places on this continent and around the world – has a hope and a future,” says Parachute Band guitarist, Si Moore.

Other highlights of Parachute 08 included the popular Fairtrade café on the World Vision site. World Vision partnered with local Waikato coffee roaster Laroma to create this new café, which sold hundreds of cups of Fairtrade coffee and snacks over the weekend. The One Life Experience had its second successful year at Parachute - more than 3000 people walked in the shoes of a child affected by HIV and AIDS.

Thanks to the wonderful volunteers who donated their time over the weekend, plus local timber business, Thomsons ITM for donating all the materials for the site.