Frankton café to raise money for charity through music

Café Agora will be hosting a live music event this Friday night, with the bulk of the proceeds going to a Thai charity that helps women escape the sex trade.

The Frankton café will host four local artists and people are encouraged to bring their friends and family along for dinner, drinks and music.

Money made from the $5  door charge will be sent to the Rahab Ministries Thailand charity through Christchurch organisation Bright Hope World.

Rahab Ministries Thailand is an organisation set up to help young women get out of the sex trade and to re-educate them or find them alternative employment.

Café Agora Director Campbell Furlong said Rahab Ministries Thailand can use the money as they see fit, although he does have an idea of what the donations will go toward.

“The money will help with accommodation and food, it will help with training, and it will help with counselling costs,” Furlong said.

“We trust Bright World Hope and Rahab Ministries to administer it as needs be.”

Last year, Café Agora held similar events on a smaller scale, with the proceeds going to local charities.

Events coordinator Daniel Webster said, although those events were successful, they would now be hosting three big events rather than a number of smaller ones.

“Last year we had a few more Agora goes Live nights with several smaller events hosted in the cafe as opposed to the event space,” Webster said.

“This year we have decided to upscale the events, but reduce the number of Agora Goes Live nights, allowing us to advertise a little longer, and create a bigger, better vibe.”

The café sponsors a charity every month, sending 50 cents from every hot beverage purchased to that organisation.

Café Agora have begun to select local charities as much as possible, with the exception of their major partners.

“Rahab Ministries are one of the main charities we support, both through our charity of the month programmes and Agora Goes Live nights,” Webster said

“Alongside our key charity partnerships, we are trying to get back to the roots of it and support small local charities and community groups.”

Webster said the purpose behind hosting such events is a matter of showcasing local artists, while giving the audience an idea of local and community needs.

This will be the first time an Agora Goes Live event has raised money for an overseas organisation.

“It is a concert, but your money is going to charity,” Webster said.

“Good food, good music, good cause!”