Locals fundraising to make a difference for people overseas

Annette Brons with some of the items for the garage sale. Photo/Ben Fraser

After experiencing a heartbreaking and emotional trip in Bangkok, a local woman is looking to raise funds for a group dedicated to helping those in need.

At the end of April, Annette Brons travelled to Bangkok and stayed with a friend who belongs to an organisation called ESTIN, Ex-patriots Supporting Those In Need.

Annette says every Monday morning the friend goes to the Bangkok detention centre, taking food, small items of clothing and hygiene products to refugees she visits.

Those in ESTIN are New Zealand and Australian women who live in Bangkok and who support refugees detained in the detention centre.

They also hold fundraisers to try and get a refugee to be released, with the cost of a release being $2500NZD.

Annette says she had the opportunity to go along one Monday morning to help.

She visited a 22-year-old Somalian man who has been detained for more than two years and had not had any visitors.

When she visited him he had a list of things he needed and was really distressed, she says.

He could speak English, but it was hard to hear as there were many refugees being visited, she says.

Women from ESTIN, with Annette Brons second from the left. Photo/Supplied

Annette says a small yard with two mesh fences separated them, with guards that walked down the middle.

"It was heartbreaking. The first thing I saw was an elderly woman and she was just crying and crying, and wanted to be free and go with her family."

Annette says ESTIN will organise families to be visited, as families live separately in the compounds and this allows for them to be reunited in the visiting area.

"It was quite emotional. I've never seen anything like it."

She belongs to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and is responsible for organising an annual project called Helping Hands that sees church members help those in need.

Helping Hands also stretches out to Murupara, Taupo and Tokoroa.

This year they are fundraising for ESTIN, who want to use the money to bail out a prisoner, especially one who has been there for a long time and does not get visited, she says.

A garage sale has already been held here in Rotorua, which raised $500 and another one is being held on October 28, from 8am, at 19 Tarewa Rd.

She says there will also be a sausage sizzle and waffles at the garage sale.

They are grateful for donations they have been receiving, she says.

She says in Tokoroa the Helping Hand crew are doing car washes and other fundraising events.