Fresh from a month in India working with World Vision, Judy Bailey is encouraging New Zealand school students to get involved with this weekend's 40 Hour Famine.
Judy and her husband Chris visited some amazing 40 Hour Famine-funded projects throughout India, and met children rescued from appalling situations, in need of shelter, food, education and a better shot at life.
Judy Bailey with children at a World Vision project in India.
Encouraged by what she saw, Judy’s keen to help World Vision spread the word about how Kiwi students can help make poverty history.
“I’ve met some remarkable children over the past month, many of whom had been sold into virtual slavery. They were incredibly open and honest with me,” says Judy.
“It’s so important to me that New Zealand children get to hear about these children, and, and about the difference 40 Hour Famine money makes in their lives.”
Judy has been a supporter of World Vision for more than 20 years, since visiting Somalia at the height of the devastating 1980s famine, and says she is as enthusiastic as ever about being involved with the organisation.
“World Vision has done some amazing work over the years, and I’m delighted to be able to work with them in any way I can to improve the lives of people living in poverty around the world.”
People like those she met, with husband Chris, at World Vision’s Aasharo Centre in Ahmedabad; a home for former child labourers and rescued street children. Aasharo means shelter, but the children receive so much more than that at the World Vision project, explains Judy.
“Aasharo is not only a shelter, it’s a place of growth. And more than that, it’s home. It’s the only home these boys have.”
World Vision hopes to raise $3 million through the Famine this year, which will be used to fund projects designed to meet children’s basic needs. Some of these projects include working on HIV and AIDS prevention, eradicating child labour and providing life’s necessities to street children like those Judy met recently.
The 40 Hour Famine started in 1975. Now, 32 years on, it has become a New Zealand school tradition. Last year 126,000 Kiwis raised $2.67 million through the Famine.
The official 40 Hour Famine weekend begins at 8pm this Friday, March 16, and finishes at 11am on Sunday March 18 (taking into account daylight saving).
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