Momentum Media assisted the charity along with Australian and New Zealand celebrities to produce a hugely successful evening.
Peta Mathias MNZM (Left), Cassandra Treadwell (Centre), Kate Rodger (Right)
For the second year running, So They Can joined forces with Momentum Media to produce a live virtual cooking class, with musical entertainment and an auction. This year’s Global Dinner was led by So They Can Ambassador, New Zealand food writer and television show presenter, Peta Mathias MNZM, live from her very own kitchen with sous chef duties in the hands of Kate Rodger, entertainment editor and critic, Newshub.
Viewers were encouraged to cook along and host their own dinner parties from their homes and make donations throughout the night. During the cooking segment, Ms Mathias rustled up a two-course meal which included an effortless yet impressive festive sunshine tart and gave her top tips for cooking chicken to perfection.
Between the cooking segments, So They Can CEO Cassandra Treadwell, updated viewers on the work and challenges taking place in Tanzania, and messages came in from Nine News presenter Peter Overton AM and Conrad Smith MNZM, New Zealand rugby coach. Viewers were also treated to exclusive music written and performed by New Zealand singer-songwriters Kimbra Johnson and Neil Finn OBE.
Since 2010, So They Can has been working to improve the quality of education in Kenya and Tanzania. The NGO partners with 47 government schools to deliver a number of education and empowerment programs, including their School Feeding Program.
The Global Dinner aims to raise funds for the School Feeding Program which is essential to improving attendance rates and academic performance. Every $20,000 raised can feed an entire school in East Africa for one year. Last year, the inaugural Global Dinner smashed its goal of $60,000 finishing up at over $100,000, and this year it also reached the same figure.
Ms Treadwell said the Global Dinner was a huge success: “Partnering with Momentum Media has enabled us to secure our lunch program for our five East Pokot, Kenya schools until the end of this year during the horrific drought that is devastating our communities. So They Can’s Global Dinner this year was another great success with our wonderful Kiwi celebrity chef Peta Mathias, and MC Kate Rodger.
“Thanks to Momentum Media we were able to bring our Global Dinner to over 11 different countries, broadening the reach of our work and impact. We couldn’t be more grateful to Momentum Media for all they do and their fundamental partnership.”
Momentum Media’s senior manager – production, Lyndsey Fall added: “So They Can’s Global Dinner is such a worthwhile and inspiring event to work on. The money raised makes a huge impact on the ground in schools in Kenya and Tanzania.
“The schools which the NGO partners with in the Feeding Program experience an attendance rate of 95 per cent, while other schools are just 48 per cent. This program is saving lives, keeping children nourished and with the energy to learn. It’s an honour to play a part in that.”
To learn more about the work of So They Can and to get involved or make a donation, click here.