Community Partnership was happening on many levels at our recent trivia night.  Around 300 people grouped around tables of ten last Friday at Balgowlah RSL for the 'Great Big Manly Trivia Gig' as part of this year's Manly-Manado events.

The event has successfully enabled Bridge of Hope, our micro enterprise development partner in Manado, to provide new loans to an additional 30 needy families. It’s exciting to think that this is equivalent to each trivia table contributing to providing one family with the opportunity to lift themselves out of poverty! We were also able to raise additional funds towards the beginning of a new development project on a rubbish tip on the outskirts of Manado. This is in an area where children are born into families that live on the tip. Rather than going to school, children become part of the whole economy that survives off the tip. Bridge of Hope is starting a new project among these people involving a basic needs, health and education program, as well as providing micro loans.

The event's success can also be attributed to the enthusiasm of the ‘table terriers’ who ran around and enthused 10, 20 or in some cases 30 people to come.  As well as being informed and inspired about what is happening in Manado, it was great to see community partnership happening around the tables as well. The room was just a buzz.

There was a successful silent auction, supported by many local businesses, a live auction conducted by Andrew Lutze of Cunninghams Real Estate. Krinklewood Wines donated the winning table prize and covers band, Rock Addiction, donated their time and talent to get things moving on the dance floor.

To provide 30 families with the opportunity to lift themselves out of poverty is a real blessing.  And it was also wonderful to see how people were inspired by the night to see how they can personally be part of taking action against poverty.