Chinese host craft fair to help victims

While many donours have opened their wallets to provide us with relief in the wake of Hurricane Keith, the Chinese community in Belize has decided to contribute to the effort the old fashioned way… by working for the money.

Ann-Marie Williams, Reporting

A group of Chinese macramé students are painstakingly preparing for a food and crafts fair designed to raise funds for victims of Hurricane Keith.

Linda Tsai, wife of Taiwanese Ambassador to Belize is the instructor.

Linda Tsai, Event Organizer

“We are going to sell decorations for the home and others, like broaches, table mats, hand bag decorations and other small items.”

“This is Chinese macramé. In our Chinese culture we use a lot of red colour and during this time we’re going to use red and green to match the Christmas colour.”

The event, which takes place on Saturday, on the embassy’s grounds on North Park Street from eleven a.m. to three p.m., promises to offer a wide variety of Chinese cuisine and crafts suitable for Christmas gifts.

Rosy Shyu is one of the students working on her favourite piece – a butterfly.

Rosy Shyu, Macramé Student

“I like this pattern, it’s more beautiful. I can hang it in my car. I can hang this on the wall and normally we use the traditional colour which is red, it means lucky to us.”

These students are part of regular macramé class. It was the Chinese community’s idea to allow them to take time out from their regular studies for three weeks to perfect a few special pieces… all to aid Belizeans affected by Keith.

According to Tsai, this goodwill gesture can one day translate into tourist dollars for the Belizeans Community.

Linda Tsai

“Actually Chinese macramé is very complicated. Teaching it by myself is not enough, so I have to train more students to become teachers to help me or to open a class for the local people to learn Chinese macramé and also use local materials to make it unique. Maybe later they can help the people here to sell the crafts to the tourist.”

Ann-Marie Williams for News Five.

The Chinese food and craft fair is co-sponsored by the Embassy of the Republic of China on Taiwan. The free event begins at eleven a.m. on the embassy grounds on North Park Street.