World Vision’s 30-Hour Famine

Resource Type:  Experiential Learning Opportunity

Main Audience: Church youth directors

Organization: World Vision

Program: 30-Hour Famine

Dates: Please check the 30-hour famine website for a list of upcoming famine dates

Location: Your local church

Cost: No charges by World Vision. Each individual group determines fundraising goals.

Website: www.30hourfamine.org

Contact:       1-800-732-6463

30hfsupport@worldvision.org

World Vision is a Christian relief and development organization addressing the causes of poverty to help suffering children and their communities around the world.  They serve the poor in need around the world regardless of religion, race, or gender.  The 30-Hour Famine is an international youth movement designed to fight hunger while educating youth about starving children around the world.  It provides youth with a way to make an impact on world hunger and learn about hunger and poverty at the same time. 

Prior to your group’s chosen famine dates, youth group members raise money through donors and sponsors to provide help to millions of hurting and undernourished children around the globe.  Groups then get a taste of what hunger is like by fasting for 30 hours.  During these 30 hours, groups are encouraged to participate in activities together, such as community service projects, games, and Bible studies, in order to gain a deeper understanding of hunger and poverty.  How each group spends their 30 hours is flexible and can be tailored to individual groups and communities.

Every couple of months World Vision schedules famine dates.  For a list of upcoming famine dates visit their website at www.30hourfamine.org.  If none of the scheduled dates work with your group’s schedule you can select your own date.  To register visit the 30 hour famine website and select “sign up for a famine now” at the bottom left hand side of the page.  This will bring you to a new screen where you can log in to your account or register your group for a new account.  By registering your group you will gain access to helpful tools to plan your famine.

Once you are registered your will receive a Leader’s Guide that contains ideas for games, service projects, and other activities to do with your youth group during the famine.  You will also receive a devotional to use during the 30 Hour Famine.  Youth participants also receive a Student Guide containing all of the information they need to participate in addition to an envelope for collect donations.  Registering will also allow you to access an online directory of other groups in your area participating in the famine. 

The money raised by each group will be used by World Vision to help hurting children around the world.  87% of the money raised goes towards development projects to help children in poverty, with only 13% needed to cover administrative and management costs.  To begin fundraising, it is recommended that each group set a fundraising goal and create a plan to reach that goal.  Some groups decide that each participant will be responsible for raising a specified amount individually while other groups choose to plan group fundraisers such as a car wash or a craft show.  Ideas for fundraising can be found in the leader’s manual.