Thousands
of students participate at school in events and projects that
fundraise to help the less-fortunate in the developing world.
From national UNICEF-sponsored programmes to projects put on
by a single individual, young Canadians are working to make
a difference in the lives of millions of poor, sick or abused
men, women and children. Here is one young Canadian's experience
with a 30-Hour Famine school fundraiser...
One of the best memories I have from high school was participating
in a WorldVision 30-Hour Famine fundraiser. I attended high
school in a small village in New Brunswick named Plaster Rock.
It’s one of those towns where everyone knows everyone.
To give you an idea of how small the town was, the high school
I attended, Tobique Valley, combined grades 6 to 12 and had
about 300 students. My graduating class numbered a mere 35.
So something like the 30-Hour Famine is going to draw a lot
of attention in a small village like that. And did it ever.
Some parents were mad because they didn’t want their children
to go that long without food so they weren’t even allowed
to participate.
I vividly remember how much fun we had. After handing in our
sponsor sheets with the donations that had been pledged by our
family, neighbours and friends, we had a meeting in the school
lobby to officially start "the fast". Everyone who
wasn’t participating was eating around us just to rub
it in our faces. But we didn’t care. We knew it was all
for a good cause.
That night there was a MuchMusic video dance at the high school
and everyone doing the famine went because we weren’t
allowed to leave the school property. Time flew by because everyone
was so busy dancing and having a good time socializing with
each other. It was a typical party. The boys got into fights
and tried to show off for the girls by hitting each other. Girls
were breaking up with their boyfriends and hooking up with other
guys. It’s funny how cranky some people get when they
have empty stomachs. But it was also a great way to get to know
people better and to make new friendships with others sharing
the experience.
After the dance, the student council had arranged for us to
watch movies in the lecture theatre all night. My group of friends
lay on the gymnastic mats on the floor and watched sappy chick
flicks. And playing hide and seek in an old, dark school was
fun too. No one seemed to care they were going without food
until 3 a.m. came around.
When you’re on the famine, you are only allowed to drink
juice and water. But nothing with a lot of nutritous value.
A few of the people in the group figured they would beat the
system and try eating frozen orange juice mix. But in the real
world, when you eat that much acid on an empty stomach, it makes
you puke. And that is exactly what they did. They puked all
through the sinks in the science lab.
So after everyone got grossed out after seeing the puke fly,
things started to wind down and we curled into our sleeping
bags on the floor of the gym to get some sleep. It was honestly
the biggest co-ed slumber party I have ever been to. Nobody
seemed to mind they had gone all day without food.
The next morning everyone woke up to screaming and hollering.
The boys had decided to throw cold water on us. How typical
is that. The rest of the 30 hours was spent watching movies
and running around the school. Everyone by this point was super
hungry but we didn’t care. We had too much fun doing the
Famine to care. Just as everyone was getting ready to leave,
student council brought in party pizzas.
Everyone ran to the pizzas which of course lasted about five
minutes.
The famine was labeled a huge success and everyone had lots
to talk about at school that Monday morning.
The
30 Hour Famine is one of Canada's largest youth fundraising
events. Started in 1971, the 30 Hour Famine now reaches over
165,000 youth and in 2006 is projected to raise close to $5,000,000.
The money raised; helps feed hungry children, brings medicine
to those in need and gives shelter to the children who have
lost homes through natural disaster and war.
To
learn more, visit www.worldvision.ca/30hourfamine/
or
call 1-888-8FAMINE
Produced
with the support of the Government of Canada through the Canadian
International Development Agency (CIDA).
