30 Hour Famine
Take a virtual youth group retreat, thought-provoking Bible studies, games, inspirational videos, and more — and mash them all up into an unforgettable day-and-a-half of going without food to raise funds for the hungry.
30 Hour Famine
Take a virtual youth group retreat, thought-provoking Bible studies, games, inspirational videos, and more — and mash them all up into an unforgettable day-and-a-half of going without food to raise funds for the hungry.
Spiritual Formation for your Student Ministry
Challenge your students to be part of something bigger than themselves. They will grow closer to Christ and each other in just 30 hours, all while learning about God’s call to care for the hungry.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How does the Famine work?
Youth groups sign up for the national Famine date at the end of February or choose their own Famine date. Then students learn about hunger and fundraise to help feed and care for children living in poverty. On Famine weekend, students get up close and personal with hunger by going 30 hours without food. World Vision provides loads of activities to help make this a totally fun, educational, and life-changing experience. The donations you send in after the Famine will be used to change lives.
Does World Vision provide resources?
World Vision will provide everything you need to plan an unforgettable Famine event, including a FREE digital event kit with a Leader’s Guide, a virtual fundraising guide, educational videos, and more. Starting in 2021, the Famine is going all digital. The new digital format should make it easier for you as a leader to share with assistant leaders and student leaders. Plus going digital saves trees and helps keep the cost down resulting in helping more kids!
How does the 30 Hour Famine fight hunger?
Every $40 you raise will help feed and care for a child for a month. World Vision puts the funds you raise to work by bringing emergency food aid to disaster zones and equipping families with the tools they need to overcome hunger in their communities. Together, we’re empowering people in need to change the direction of their lives. What does this change look like? Parents equipped to grow healthier, more abundant crops and livestock. Communities gaining access to clean water for nutritious harvests. Children receiving basic medical care. Kids going to school. Families getting on their feet — and standing strong.
What benefits do students get from doing the Famine?
Through the Famine, students learn about real-world issues of poverty and injustice through the lens of the Bible, and they get the chance to make a real difference for hungry children. Plus, their own lives are transformed as they experience hunger firsthand — going without food so others don’t have to. As well, the Famine can also help students achieve the level of community service hours they may need to graduate. And for student leaders, helping coordinate an event like the Famine looks great on their college application!
How much does my group have to raise?
There’s no minimum amount that you have to raise to participate in the Famine. The important thing is to get your group excited about changing lives by raising funds to beat hunger. Have them set individual and group fundraising goals and encourage them to outdo those goals.
Why fast?
In the Bible, people fasted for a variety of reasons. Some did it as an act of worship (Acts 13:2), some to get right with God (Nehemiah 9:1) or to discern the Lord’s will (2 Chronicles 20:3). Whatever the goal, fasting as a spiritual practice helps people break free from the clutter of our world and focus on what matters to God. Fasting as a part of the 30 Hour Famine also helps students identify with the hungry children they’re helping — and learn about hunger in a memorable way.
Is fasting safe?
Most people can safely go without food for 30 hours, but there are a few people who shouldn’t do it — including kids under 12, the elderly, pregnant or nursing women, and people with certain medical conditions. If you or a parent have any concerns about fasting, be sure to check with a doctor first. If anyone in your group is unable to participate in a food fast, we’ve come up with some good alternatives, included in the Leader’s Guide.
What will my group do for 30 hours?
Tons of stuff they’ll love! We’ve given you a schedule in the Leader’s Guide that includes things like serving your community, learning about God’s heart for justice through Bible studies, and playing fun activities and games.
One in nine people in the world don’t get enough to eat.
Many poor farmers can’t grow enough food to feed their own families, much less sell to get income for essentials like education and healthcare. That’s why World Vision partners with communities to address immediate food needs — but also to equip them to grow food for the long term. And this change happens when groups like yours raise money through the 30 Hour Famine!
One in nine people in the world don’t get enough to eat.
Many poor farmers can’t grow enough food to feed their own families, much less sell to get income for essentials like education and healthcare. That’s why World Vision partners with communities to address immediate food needs — but also to equip them to grow food for the long term. And this change happens when groups like yours raise money through the 30 Hour Famine!
One in nine people in the world don’t get enough to eat.
Many poor farmers can’t grow enough food to feed their own families, much less sell to get income for essentials like education and healthcare. That’s why World Vision partners with communities to address immediate food needs — but also to equip them to grow food for the long term. And this change happens when groups like yours raise money through the 30 Hour Famine!
