Iona students give up tech, furniture, food for 40 Hour Famine

Iona College students Katie Holden (left), service prefect Claire Gordon and Lilly Clayton-Limmer are promoting the 40 Hour Famine, which students are participating in this weekend. Photo/Duncan Brown.

Students from Iona College are giving up technology, furniture and food this weekend in support of the 40 Hour Famine.

The initiative to raise money for children living in poverty around the world began back in 1975, led by World Vision.

This year students from 15 schools across the Bay are giving up something they love to help Syrian refugees.

Iona College has eight girls participating under the organisation of Year 13 service prefect Claire Gordon.

Claire said the service programme had a "head, hands and heart" approach and the aim of the 40 Hour Famine was as much about raising awareness for the people of Syria as well as funds.

Iona College director of advancement Rose Flay said the girls were involved in many different service projects and those who chose the 40 Hour Famine saw it as a way of making a difference in the world.

"The opportunity to share this experience with friends and peers also appealed," Flay said.

The group of girls has chosen to give up food, furniture and technology. They said it would be tough as they would be breaking habits of a lifetime.

Student Katie Holden said it was about the act of being selfless and advocating for others, which was threaded through their service learning at Iona.

"The feeling of going without - especially food and furniture - will make the experience incredibly real and help us to understand how those who are truly suffering might feel. It will help us appreciate the things we take for granted."

The girls hope to help the refugees by giving them the opportunity to have food on their tables, better education and a better future.

Katiesaid they would like to help influence other people and organisations to bring supplies to help refugees on a larger scale.

"The children did not choose to be born into areas of conflict and we would like for them to have a chance at having the same opportunities as we do."

Last year Kiwi children raised nearly $2 million towards supporting child-friendly spaces allowing Syrian children to restart their education in Jordan and receive support for dealing with the trauma they have witnessed.

World Vision chief executive Chris Clarke said it was extraordinarily grateful for the empathy and engagement of New Zealand's young people with Syrian refugees.

"Last year Kiwis made a huge difference in the lives of young Syrians living in Jordan, but as the conflict continues we still need your support."

The 40 Hour Famine is being supported by a Selfless Selfie social media campaign where people change their profile pictures to a specially generated image that shows them standing side by side with a Syrian refugee. A selfless selfie can be created by visiting www.worldvision.org.nz/40-hour-famine/create-your-selfless-selfie.

The 40 Hour Famine begins today and finishes on June 11.