40 Hour Famine

This weekend, many young people will take part in the 40 hour famine. It starts at 8pm this evening and continues until Sunday midday. During that time, people who decide to take part in this event, will not eat for 40 hours.

The 40 hour famine is a World Vision project. World Vision is a Christian aid agency which works in 40 poor countries. The 40 hour famine weekend began in 1975 and over those 40 years has raised $74 million. The idea was to experience what it is like to have no food, just as some people in poor countries experience often.

Last year 120,000 young New Zealanders took part in the 40 hour famine. They collect sponsorship money for their efforts. For example, friends might give $1 for every hour.

Some people raise money for the 40 hour famine by doing something else which is difficult like turning off their mobile phone for 40 hours. A local swim team is planning to swim 550 km between them during the weekend.

The money this year is for Bangladesh.

Vocabulary

• famine – no food, usually because there is no rain for a long time so nothing grows
• take part – join
• aid agency – like Save the Children, or UNICEF. They help poor countries or help after a disaster like an earthquake
• raise money – collect money to give
• something else – something different