The Ministry of Social Development Northern Region held a Community Seminar for Pacific community organisations in Auckland to assist them in obtaining funding, attracting 100 representatives.
The seminar, held at the Pacific Business Trust offices in Otahuhu, was broken into workshops
They were able to leave with a package that included a CD containing advice on budgeting, business plans, marketing, preparing fundraising applications and with helpful templates.
“It’s about providing something practical for our communities, so they can come away from a fono with some tools they can actually do something with,” says Isobel Evans, the MSD Northern Regional Manager and 2005 Pacific Business Leader of the Year.
“It gives them a much better base of what needs to happen before they start putting in applications for funding. The information is there to help them prepare properly and give them the best chance of succeeding, rather than being disappointed at being turned down because they didn’t supply all that was required.”
Evans, of Fijian descent, says having Pacific people hosting the workshops was crucial.
“When you have quality Pacific people who are experts in their own field, our community can relate to them. It helps them believe what is possible for their organization.”
An eye opener for many attending was the website www.community.net.nz, an internet resource to support communities throughout New Zealand administered by the Department of Internal Affairs.
“Many didn’t know the site existed,” says host Moananu Tyrone Laurenson from the Pasifika Education Centre.
“It opens up our communities to the various community funding bodies that are around to help organizations like theirs.”
The MSD will host seminars in Waitakere City and central Auckland.
