Vodafone ATH Fiji Foundation Bolsters Purple Rose Projects
Purple Rose Club of Lautoka received $2500 to boost its income generation projects from Vodafone ATH Fiji Foundation.
“Grow $2500 into $25,000 as we pose similar challenges to community groups,” said Vodafone ATH Fiji Foundation Executive Ambalika Prakash.
“With a vision to help the disadvantaged and the vulnerable populace, the Purple Rose women’s group ventured into helping children and poor communities with education and health rejuvenating projects,” she said.
“We are on a journey to help the community-based women and youth clubs. Hearty causes that in turn sustains small groups continue to inspire us.”
Ms Prakash said Vodafone ATH Fiji Foundation is a charitable arm of Vodafone Fiji Limited and Amalgamated Telecomm holdings. “We continue to make contribution towards innovative and creative projects,” she said.
“So far the $19m social investment is creating waves of projects in the community ranging from health, education, economic growth and social development projects.
“These projects also steer people away from suffering as well as creating employment at various levels. “We motivate clubs to reinvest profits into other social and economic projects of the community.
“As the charity organisations grow in size from small to medium we are mindful that projects we support also grow at breath and depth,” the foundation executive said.
Purple Rose Women’s Club president Celine Worthington said the club was established in 2014 through small morning teas and with contribution from members it continued to grow.
“So far we have executed almost 100 small projects since Purple Rose Clubs inception in 2014,” Ms Worthington said.
“We continue to energise ourselves and have aspiration to grow this $2500 in future to be able to support those projects that yields higher rate of return.
“We have plans for major fundraising and income generation projects.
“We are a small group, but the needs of the communities continue to inspire us to raise as much funds and continue helping those that are hardworking and are ready to help themselves.
“We are mindful of not creating a handout culture but to ensure that our projects empower every life we touch.”
Club treasurer Praveen Lata said the group in the past supported children with heart ailments, and corrective surgeries, school fees, hostel fees, installation of electricity and water projects.
“Our projects also include helping the Tropical Cyclone Winston victims, cancer patients, seed funding to start small business such as roti parcel and selling juice.
“The Tropical Cyclone Winston project included food vouchers, housing assistance, clothes and education assistance.
“We continue to pay for university fees and buy accessories for students who continues to give us good results.
“As we continue to grow, we approached Vodafone ATH Fiji Foundation for small funding to ensure that we sustain the activities that addresses the needs of the community.”
Club secretary Milika Marshall said: “We do welcome and receive one-off funding from groups that do not wish to be named and we meet every month to discuss projects that need execution.”