Around the world with the Christmas Charity Bazaar
The ICCB Committee: Much hard work behind the scenes. Pic by Ruwan S Jayaweera
The International Christmas Charity Bazaar to be held on November 25 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. promises to be an experience that will take you around the world within the Galle Face Hotel ballroom. Bringing together attractions from countries such as Russia to Spain, the ICCB is a wonderfully exciting way to kick off the festive season.
Speaking to a few of the stall holders representing different countries across the globe gave us a sneak peek into treats awaiting visitors to the Bazaar. From the British Welfare stall, Joan Hyde tells us that you can expect bonbons, stuffing for turkey, chestnut filling, Quality Street chocolates and other goodies that can’t be easily found in Sri Lanka but that have been brought down from England.
Representing the Indonesian stall, Nona Siske plans to entice visitors with Indonesian food that will be available at the stall such as Nasi Pedang which is a rice dish served with a variety of meat, the well-known Nasi Goreng and satay. Crafts and clothes some with designs featuring batik material will also be on sale.
Lumpiang longganisa (a type of spring roll), cassava cake, macaroons, potu (a steamed white rice cake) and other delicacies from the Philippines including souvenirs such as key tags, mugs and paperweights will be at the Philippines stall, Josie Poole tells us.
Eagerly waiting to bring authentic Malaysian cuisine back to the Bazaar, veteran stall holder Usha Jejathwarai representing Malaysia tells us that a good Nasi Lemak, an aromatic rice dish cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf (rampe), is something impossible to find in Sri Lanka. The meat rendang which is filled with spices draws many visitors to the Bazaar for a repeat visit.
All the stall holders of the Christmas Bazaar are volunteers, who are committed to the requirement that all money collected on the day of the Bazaar and related activities go directly to the beneficiaries. The true spirit of the season of giving is embodied within this event. Here we take a brief look at the beneficiaries:
“Women work within their community, and we have gained a lot of interest because once women see other women driving around in their tuk tuks, it empowers them and it kind of snowballs from there,” Co-founder and Director of the Rosie May Foundation Mary Jane Storrie says. Project ‘Think Pink Sri Lanka’ was created to provide a ‘a hand-up and not a hand-out’ mainly to single mothers in Sri Lanka. To empower and ensure the safety of women and children in the southern area of Sri Lanka, women are trained on how to drive tuk tuks thus giving them a job opportunity by renting out pink tuk tuks that can be used to chauffeur around children and women around the area. Most hires are pre-booked such as school-runs and tuition class carpools thus creating a flexible schedule for the women to work around.
The International Christmas Charity Bazaar has donated a pink tuk tuk to the cause and has pledged to fund the training of an additional 10 more women drivers.
You can find out more information on the Pink Tuk Tuk project at https://www.rosie-may.com/
One of the charities that will be benefit from the proceeds this year is EASE foundation. Co-Founder Anoja Rajapatirana explains that the foundation runs a school that caters to children and adults alike who have disabilities. Strongly advocating that people with disabilities have the right to live full lives and be offered the same opportunities and freedom as others, EASE creates an environment where there are no barriers to being ‘handicapped.’
EASE will have a stall selling items created by the students and teachers of the school, such as beautiful hand-painted stools, coasters, frames and festive decorations to name a few.
You can find out more information on the EASE foundation at https://easesrilanka.org/
The charity initiative Shakthi provides opportunities for women and girls in difficult situations to support themselves, by teaching them how to make beautiful limited edition ladies cloth bags with the Shakti branding, thus generating a regular source of income for them.
The bags alongside purses, backpacks and pouches will be available for purchase at the Bazaar this December.
Shakthi Gallery is located at 11, Havelock Rd, Colombo 5 and can be contacted at charity@teatang.com and on 011 727 6592.
Reach, Lanka Alzheimer’s Foundation, Convent of Perpetual Help and the Father Peter Pillai Trust are among the other charity organisations that will also be provided aid.
Tickets for the event priced at Rs 700 are available at: Café Kumbuk, 60 Horton Place, Colombo 7, L’Atelier Touché, 50 R.A De Mel Mawatha, Colombo 3, The Gallery Shop, 2 Alfred House Road, Colombo 3, PR, 41 Horton Place, Colombo 7, Trunk, Cinnamon Grand, Colombo 3 and Bien Être Salon, Fairway Galle.