Canberra’s Venezuelan community will host a major fundraising event later this month to support victims of the devastating earthquakes that have struck Venezuela.

It will be held at the Canberra Seniors Citizens Centre in Turner on Saturday, July 25, with all proceeds going to humanitarian organisations Caritas Venezuela and Mates Without Borders.

Visitors will be able to sample Venezuela’s national dish, the arepa, along with other traditional cuisine, alongside an afternoon of live music and cultural performances.

The entertainment program includes performances by the Alma Latina Choir, Capital Choro Band, StrumTree Guitar Ensemble, Peruvian guitarist Eduardo Ruiz, Argentine musicians Rodolfo Pablo Caivano and Eloise Reddy, and singer-songwriter Jorge Bontes.

A diplomatic auction will also be held, with members of Canberra’s diplomatic corps bidding on  a painting by the late Canberra artist Domenic Mico, kindly donated by his widow, Vicki.

Fundraising committee member Frank Madrid said the event was an opportunity for Canberrans to support families affected by the disaster.

“This is a humanitarian emergency of enormous scale,” he said. “Our community is responding with compassion, determination, and hope.”

The event runs from noon to 5pm at the Canberra Seniors Citizens Centre, 10 Watson Street, Turner, with the musical program beginning at 2pm.

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