School Events Raising $$ 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. 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 Much Music 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 nutritious value. 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. 0 Fundraising initiatives can be put forward by anyone who wants to help the less- fortunate people. 1 Everyone in the town approved of the pupils’ staying without food as it was all for a good cause. 2 The participants of the event had donated some cash to the developing world before they officially started the famine. 3 Being committed to the idea, those who were on the famine were not tempted by those who were eating around them. 4 When at a dance party, the kids on the famine were eccentric yet open to enjoyment and new experience. 5 Despite staying without food for 30 hours, the high school pupils did not mind doing the famine longer.