Students go without for refugees

Waiopehu College students share barley sugars and water during their 40 Hour Famine, helping raise funds for World Vision's child-friendly spaces for refugee children in Jordan. From left, Brian Fuiono, Kearn Pop-Holtham, Jackson McIvor, Terri Land-Bedford, Maori dean and teacher Misty Sciascia and Kuini Fonoti.

A small group of Waiopehu College students joined Maori dean and teacher Misty Sciascia in a 40 hour famine last week, surviving on water and barley sugars while continuing their normal daily routines at school and home.

They were taking part in World Vision's 40 Hour Famine, the country's biggest youth event, which will see money raised used to fund child-friendly spaces for refugee children in Jordan. Activities could range from going without food to ditching the electronics and TV for 40 hours.

Ms Sciascia said they decided to hold their famine ahead of the national event at the weekend so they could support each other during the day at school.

"We got together for our famine morning teas and lunches of water and three barley sugars.

"During the evenings, we used a class messenger group to share stories and pics of our evenings, watching the family eat and smelling other people's food," she said.
Ms Sciascia said the students found it hard not eating, thinking about what they would normally eat.

"One student said having to go to training and then not eat afterwards was hard, another said they kept waking up in the night because their tummy was grumbling."

Ms Sciascia said it wasn't the biggest fundraiser ever but the students were learning about the 'butterfly effect' - how small acts can have huge effects - and it gave them a greater degree of empathy and understanding for the plight of refugees.

"Feeling how they must feel, it was uncomfortable and I only did it for 40 hours, so imagine how they must feel," said one student.

Other Waiopehu College students are taking on the 40 hour famine challenge at Memorial Hall later this month.

At Horowhenua College, social action prefect Danielle De Burgh organised 110 students to take part in the famine fundraiser, undertaking a range of activities from not eating to going without phones and computers for 40 hours, plus one student doing 40 good deeds.

Danielle said going without wifi, feeling disconnected, and not eating gave two students a greater appreciation of what refugees go through, and an appreciation of just how lucky they are by comparison.

She hadn't had a chance to total up all the money raisedbut Danielle reckoned they would beat last year's total of $600.

Levin Intermediate students also took part in the national fundraiser, including giving up technology, junk food, eating using only their hands, living out of a back pack and no talking over 40 hours.

The 20 students raised about $800.

Teacher David Miller said they didn't find it too challenging but all found it very rewarding.

"We ran the build-up to the famine in conjunction with in class programs where they learnt about the Syrian refugee crisis, what life is like in the camps and what the child-friendly spaces are there to achieve," he said.