By: Precious Mills
BASSETERRE, St.Kitts- (Saturday 14th July 2018)– Come next Saturday (21st July), the Alliance Française de St. Kitts and Nevis is slated to host a Fundraising French Buffet Dinner in the celebration of Bastille Day-the National Day of France commemorated on 14th July- at Government House located Springfield from 7:00PM to 10:30PM.
The event, aimed at raising monies to assist with the operational cost of that non-profit organisation, will be held under the distinguished patronage the Governor General Sir Tapley Seaton and with the presence of the Ambassador of France to the OECS Philippe Ardanaz.
On the menu will be French food items like baguettes, French bread, croissant, French cheese, smoked and cooked ham, gratin de pommes de terre (potato) while the beverage list will include wine and rum punch.
In a sit-down interview with Director of the Alliance Française Marine Macout, she touched on the importance of the keeping the centre, which is directed by a local committee, afloat for the success of its day to day operation in the Federation.
She also called upon anyone who is willing to support the centre in the interest of sustainability in seeing it “more active and present” to come on board to assist since running that type of centre “is not cheap.”
Macout pointed of that some persons might not see the Alliance Française as being vulnerable but quickly noted: “We need to raise funds. It is a necessity at this point. It might not be seen as vulnerable… but it’s a centre that is based here and the initiatives are local.”
Macout also touched on the event as providing “for the local community to have a possibility of giving another exposure for the youths that are here… and we see that we have students who are studying French in school…”
She shared that the aim of the centre is “to promote the French culture, the French language. Our goal is to do some things at the lowest cost possible to be accessible to the largest population because our aim is to promote education and culture. When we organised the French Singing Competition [held in February], we looked at bigger events because bigger events can attract more crowd and sponsors too.”
According to her, the upcoming fundraiser is “a way for us to pull certain crowds…people who are attracted by the French culture or by the French language or only by the fact that there are supporting foreign languages on the island.”
Event sponsors include Spice Mill, Poinciana, Sweet & Savory, St. Kitts Marriott Resort & The Royal Beach Casino, Discovery bar, Sprat Net, Carib Brewery, Koscab, Ti Amo, Island Bakeries, Mixitalia SKN, Corks and Screws, Les Grands Vins de France, Opus Fine Wines and Spirits and also The Department of Culture.
Entertainment will include French songs by first runner up of the French Singing Competition Turquoisa Henry, DJ Legal as well as The Actors (of St. Peter’s), one of the traditional troupes of St. Kitts inspired by the French Heritage.
The dress code is ‘Elegant in red, white or blue’.
Ticket prices are EC$125 for members and EC$150 for non-members. Interested persons are asked to note that they do not have to necessarily include the three altogether in their outfits.
Tickets can be booked by WhatsApp at 1-869-667-9019 (Marine Macout) or purchased at the Alliance Française de St. Kitts and Nevis located at 1 Orchid Street, from Monday to Friday 9:00 AM to 4:30PM.