Understanding the application Sponsorship with NZ Office of Ethnic Communities

Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) South Island New Zealand was invited by New Zealand’s Office of Ethnic Communities to their Christchurch office on 20 November to understand the procedure of sponsorship application with Department of Internal Affair. Ethnic Affairs Advisors Candy Zhang and Mona Contractor had welcomed both BLIA Director Committee member Kok Wei Low and Member Ryan Wang.

Candy and Mona explained that the application details for an organisation whom wish to held an event with the sponsorship. These gave a clearer picture for Kok Wei And Ryan about the application process. Mona and Candy understand that the BLIA had organised various activities that are beneficial towards the community over the past decade and those activities have numerous compliments by the public. They wished BLIA South Island the best in obtaining the sponsorship budget through the next application.

Over the years, Fo Guang Shan (FGS) and BLIA South Island have organised various activities, including Buddha’s Day Multi-faith Blessing for Christchurch, Chocolatte Festival, Embracing Love and Peace - Prayer for Christchurch, Vege Fest, etc. These events had achieved its function of purifying people's hearts with harmonisation and bringing positive energy which benefits to the Christchurch community.

Advisors Candy attended most of the events that mention earlier and was very impressed with two of the events, namely the Buddha’s Day and Embracing Love and Peace - Prayer for Christchurch.  She mentioned that in these events, various representatives from different religions gather together and prayed for the goodwill of society which touched her heart. The events were successfully attracted people from different background of New Zealand. Various ethnic whom participated this event were at benefits in allowing them to blend into New Zealand’s Culture. Both Mona and Candy said they would try their best to assist BLIA South Island to obtain Sponsorship grant from the Office of Ethnic Communities to continue benefiting the society.