VietNamNet Bridge – New Zealand Wine & Food Festival will return to the RMIT University campus in HCMC’s District 7 on March 12.

A view of the New Zealand Wine & Food Festival in 2015 - PHOTO: COURTESY OF ORGANIZERS

Participants can enjoy New Zealand’s award-winning products, from imported wines to Kiwi style food from seven leading hotels in town while relaxing on the lawn and listening to live music.

Last year’s event helped raise over VND100 million for Ba Chieu Home for Girls to provide education and a safe environment for 26 girls for one year. The organizers expect to donate all of the proceeds from this year’s festival to this charity shelter and KOTO to train underprivileged kids for hospitality.

Ba Chieu Home, a major recipient of support from the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce, was established in 1996 by the Women’s Charity Association of HCMC and the former New Zealand Consul General & Trade Commissioner, Celia Caughey. It has also been assisted financially over the years by the New Zealand Embassy and a group of loyal sponsors. The Ba Chieu Home is for homeless and disadvantaged girls in HCMC.

The girls there are aged between 7 and 19 and many of them came from broken and violent homes or, in some cases, lived on the streets. Funds raised from this event contribute to providing the girls with a safe environment, education and skills.

Formed in 1996, KOTO (Know One, Teach One) is a not-for-profit social enterprise. They offer holistic training and empowerment programs to help at-risk and disadvantaged youth aged from 16 to 24. KOTO now has 600 successful graduates, and 200 trainees currently in the program.

Tickets cost VND2 million per person, inclusive of food and wine coupons, wine glass, and gift bag and entertainment book, and go on sale from Wednesday.

For further information, email to [email protected] or visit the Facebook page of wineandfoodnewzealandhcmc.

RMIT University is located at 702 Nguyen Van Linh Parkway in District 7.

Kieu Giang

SGT