To acknowledge the monumental effort migrant construction workers have put in to rebuild the Garden City after the 2011 Earthquake, several community organisations have come together to say “thank you” to them on March 26.

The initiative is the brainchild of Rob Ferguson, Chaplain in the city, Durham St Methodist Church, who leads its community ministry called Streets. “My job is to roam the streets and talk to people. Sometime around Christmas, during one such walk, I asked a Filipino construction worker, what he misses most while living here in Christchurch. He said, obviously his family. Later, he thanked me for taking the time to talk to him. That got me thinking. All of us see this construction going on all around us, but somehow the people doing that work have become invisible to us. We don't even acknowledge their presence. This is the reason we are having this Thank You fest the coming Sunday,” he explained.     

The event will include some fun games, lots of interaction, speeches, music and free barbecue. Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand Jesus S. Domingo will also attend the event.  

Talking about future such events, Ferguson informed, “A Christchurch organisation Life in Vacant Spaces has offered us a proposition to use Spark Park, in downtown Hereford St. We plan to put some tables there so that people from nearby offices and migrant workers can sit together and have lunch. Hopefully over time it will become a place for conversation – for talking and listening perhaps.”