Source: World Vision
More than 200 schools across Aotearoa will be going offline to participate in the World Vision 40 Hour Challenge, which kicks off on Friday, 19 June.
Thousands of young people will take on the country’s largest youth fundraising event, raising funds to support hungry children in Solomon Islands.
This year’s World Vision 40 Hour Challenge is encouraging participants to go offline for 40 hours by giving up phones, gaming, social media, streaming services and even electricity to raise funds.
Across the country, young people will be taking on all manner of challenges including walking 3,500km (the distance between New Zealand and Solomon Islands), cooking 400 meals in 40 hours; completing 40 challenges in 40 hours; planting trees; undertaking community service projects; hosting school lock-ins and survivor challenges; participating in walkathons; and facing their personal fears.
World Vision National Director TJ Grant says he is continually inspired by the creativity and commitment shown by young people.
“It’s inspiring to see so many young people embracing creative challenges and giving up screentime for a short time to support hungry children in Solomon Islands, where nearly half of children suffer from chronic malnutrition and climate change is making it increasingly difficult for families to put food on the table.”
More than 60 landmarks across New Zealand will light up orange in support of the campaign, including the Sky Tower, Eden Park, Christchurch Botanic Gardens, Forsyth Barr Stadium, the Royal Whanganui Opera House, and a range of unique landmarks such as the Big Fruit in Cromwell, the Gore Brown Trout, and the Wellington Cable Cars tunnel.
“The World Vision 40 Hour Challenge is part of New Zealand’s cultural heritage and it’s an honour to see so many schools, communities, and landmarks getting behind New Zealand young people and the children we are raising funds to help,” says Grant.
Funds raised in this year’s World Vision 40 Hour Challenge will help provide families in Solomon Islands with seeds, tools, and training to grow more resilient, predictable crops so children have the nutritious food they need to grow healthy and strong.
Young people can still sign up online, with friends, through their school or church at 40hour.org.nz.