Source: University of Otago
Yen Pokusai, a Ukrainian student whose family has been forced to flee the Russian invasion
The Aquinas College Ukraine Fundraiser was a huge success, raising over $7500 to help people in the war-torn country.
The auction was organised after the college rallied around resident Yen Pokusai, a Ukrainian student whose family has been forced to flee the Russian invasion.
A traditional Ukrainian doll made by Yen for the fundraiser was the star of the show, selling for $1010. Other lots also attracted high bids, including a box of cans of coffee that sold for $1000 and a night at Larnach Castle with dinner for two that reached $1005.
Aquinas College Warden Rosemary Tarbotton said organisers were a little nervous about the Friday night auction and wondered if anybody would attend.
“However, come they did – residents and alumni of the college, members of the local Ukrainian community, staff of the college, and even some members of the public. Our auctioneer was Kevin Hayward (lately of Hayward’s Auctions), and he was an amazing asset to the evening.
“He made us laugh, he plucked numbers out of thin air, he made people spend money they didn’t think they were going to, and altogether he made the evening a huge success!”
Yen started the evening with a heartfelt presentation about her country – as it was before the war, and as it is now.
“This was simply heart breaking and really brought home to us just why we were there. She told us about her friends and family and showed us slides and a short film – it was once a truly beautiful country but is now ruined by the ravages of war.
However, there was also much laughter and a lot of fun – Yen said to me afterwards it was the first time she had laughed in a very long time.” The money raised will go to Nova Ukraine, a US based charity which the local Ukrainians said was doing great work in their country.
