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.

Click here to read more about Parachute 2010

Local schools are getting ready to take the stage with much-loved Kiwi singer Suzanne Prentice in the latest series of Kids for Kids concerts, hosted by World Vision. Now in its fourteenth year, Kids for Kids shows still regularly sell out.

The new show, Shake, Rattle & Roll, was launched in December. It includes songs from the Beach Boys, Elvis Presley and Sister Act, as well as some old favourites including Alexander’s Ragtime Band and the Banana Boat Song. Tunes from The Sound of Music and Footrot Flats will delight adults and children alike.

Despite having given more than 460 performances, Suzanne Prentice shows no signs of being tired of Kids for Kids.

 “It’s just wonderful seeing the kids enjoying themselves so much through something so simple as music and song. It’s really nice to be part of something that gives back to children,” she says.

More than 150,000 children have taken part in Kids for Kids over the past 14 years.

World Vision’s Kids for Kids concerts are highly professional productions and suitable for all ages to attend. 

Concerts start at 7.30pm
Adults: $16.00 & $18.00 Child/Student: $10.00 & $12.00