In August 2010, around 200,000 young Aussies gave something up for 40 hours to raise funds and awareness for kids living in poverty. So far they've raised close to $6 million. Amazing!
Thanks so much to everyone who was involved! We hope you'll take part again in 2011.
World Vision Australia started the 40 Hour Famine in 1975, for the purpose of raising money to help children, their families and communities in desperate need. The funds raised each year by the 40 Hour Famine continue to support World Vision’s work tackling the causes of poverty, through both short term solutions and long term development projects.
The 40 Hour Famine is also World Vision’s major community awareness event for young Australians.
Meet our 2011 Youth Ambassadors
Each year, World Vision selects Youth Ambassadors from across Australia to go and see first hand what the money raised through the 40 Hour Famine is able to achieve.
We're stoked to announce our 2011 Youth Ambassadors:- Aaron from New South Wales
- Ashlee from Queensland
- Claire from Victoria
- Julia from Western Australia
- Will from South Australia
How did these guys become Youth Ambassadors?
Well, to be eligible, they needed to:
- have raised $200 or more for the 2010 40 Hour Famine
- be 15-20 years old in 2011
- be available in your home state throughout 2011
- be genuinely interested in issues of global poverty and injustice and wants to see the world change!
- respect cultural diversity and enjoys experiencing new things
- enjoy public speaking, with the ability to jump up in front of a big school assembly to speak without freaking out!
They applied along with heaps of other awesome young people and went through a selection process which involved interviews, presentations and a bit of fun too.
Our Youth Ambassadors travel overseas on a World Vision Study Tour to East Timor in January 2011. They'll meet children and families who live in poverty and witness their daily struggles first hand. As an added bonus, they'll be sharing their experiences with Youth Ambassadors from New Zealand.
When they return, they have an important job to do: to talk to the media, schools and communities about what they saw, what it means, and what actions all Australians can take to help.