Food will be scarce for some students at Timberline Secondary School next month.
The school will be hosting a 30-hour famine, organized through World Vision Canada (WV), an international faith organization helping bring awareness to famine and poverty around the world,
“They work with secular groups like our school’s Global Issue Club. We also work with the Canadian Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief as well in anti-landmine education,” says Stephen Joyce, one of the teachers organizing the event.
The school first did the event in 1999 and did it annually up until 2018. Joyce said they have had up to 700 students participate in the past, raising around $30,000 for WV.
“There is both an educational aspect and a community-building aspect. The education component runs the gambit through the afternoon and evening with lectures, discussions, documentaries, activities and action. Following the intros, the school gym is divided into sports activities and quiet spaces, places to play games places to do art. There is music, movies, and simulations such as building a ‘refugee’ town out of cardboard (ties into homelessness),” according to an info form sent to participants and their families.
The 30-hour famine will start on May 10, from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. on May 11. If participants feel the need to eat, they will receive plain rice. However, they will be encouraged to drink plenty of fluids, such as water and sugar-free fruit juices. This excludes popsicles and/or juice crystals.
On May 10, participants will meet at the school’s theatre. Participants will learn about famine, poverty, war, health issues, water issues, and landmines.
They will also learn what they can do to help the people living around the world living under those conditions.
”The lower school will be laid out for sports like basketball, badminton, hockey, and baseball (if the weather permits). There will also be an area for sitting and chatting, an area for dance, board games, “Just Dance” trivia, Twister, Four Corner Soccer and more. There are also a number of group activities, such as the famous refugee camp creation, and the landmine walk,” says Joyce.
Participants are encouraged to stay overnight. However, there will be a designated sleeping area. In the morning, there will be a group breakfast.
Each participant is to fundraise or donate a minimum of $100 to join the event.
Those who contribute more money will be recognized with prizes, collected by Global Issues students from local businesses.
“We have done this in the past, and the business community of Campbell River has never disappointed in their outpouring of support for our students in this event,” says Joyce. “One year, the students raised $11,500 towards this effort. I lost my beard that time. This year, the goal is to surpass this so they can dye my hair pink (not my favourite colour). We will see.”
The event is open to all members of the Timberline community.