Climate change doesn't care where you live.
#itsOURfuture

It doesn’t matter where you live in the world, Malawi or Matarangi. Young people around the world are facing the same problem. Climate change.

We know our climate is changing, and our everyday actions make a difference in the world we live in.

You and thousands of Kiwis joined the fight against hunger and injustice in Malawi through the World Vision 40 Hour Famine. You proved that when we act together, incredible things happen. Let's continue to show climate-vulnerable communities they don't fight alone.

Tap into your power to create positive change by becoming a climate advocate!

 


Check out these incredible youth leading the way in climate-change activism!

Cherry is driving youth-led climate initiatives in Myanmar.

Cherry is driving youth-led climate initiatives in Myanmar.

Cherry shares her experiences in the child group meeting

16-year-old Cherry from Myanmar is driving youth-led climate initiatives in her local community.

As a World Vision sponsored child, Cherry learnt about climate change and its impacts through a Child and Youth Consultation Workshop.

Her group, suitably named 'Superhero Children', wants to set an example and be heroes to their community. The group does monthly drain and street cleanups, plants trees, and educates their neighbours on the importance of environmental protection.

Cherry also has plans to host workshops, put up posters and lobby her local government to ensure her community is addressing the climate crisis. She hopes that when adults see children driving environmental initiatives, they will notice and follow their example.

Abul is working on disaster risk reduction in Bangladesh.

Abul is working on disaster risk reduction in Bangladesh.

Abul (right) with Child Forum members distributing seedlings

Climate change is visible in 17-year-old Abul's community in the coastal belt of Bangladesh. 

Destructive floods and ever-increasingly intense cyclones are becoming more frequent in the region. When Abul was just 7-years old, the devastating tropical super cyclone Sidr destroyed his home.

Abul is now a member of Assasuni Child Forum who work for child rights, social welfare and disaster risk reduction.  "We will not do anything that harm the nature," Abul shares.

During cyclones, they work together with the local government to create awareness and help people evacuate to the cyclone shelter.  And they take action with preventative measures by planting trees and creating awareness among the community. 

Okirano is advocating for change in Aotearoa.

Okirano is advocating for change in Aotearoa.

Okirano (18), New Zealand

18-year-old Okirano is passionate about taking action and championing Pacific voices here in Aotearoa.

"I think the time of educating and showing awareness to these issues is over, and it’s the time to take action," shares Okirano. "I truly believe New Zealand youth holds great power and ability to make real and impactful change.”

Okirano is advocating for change in Aotearoa through his various roles in local advocacy organisations. This includes the Minister of Education’s Youth Advisory Group, which allows him to feed into climate change policies.

"As well as sharing these spaces and decision-making roles, I have been strongly encouraging, and building relationships with other passionate young people so that they have the courage to be bold and to advocate for and lead social change within their own communities,” shares Okirano.



Thank you to all the Kiwis who participated in the 2020 World Vision 40 Hour Famine!

Over the weekend of 5th-7th June, thousands of young Kiwis took part in the World Vision 40 Hour Famine; raising life-changing money for the families and children of Malawi affected by climate change. 

Despite the challenges we have all faced over the last few months, physical distancing was no match for awesome, inspiring young Kiwis like you.

Across the country, Kiwis participated in mufti days, sausage sizzles, bake-sales, carnivals and so much more! We were inspired by some crazy and brilliant fundraising ideas; from walking 40km in 40 hours to a 24-hour lock-in sleepover. 

Thanks to your help, we can win the fight against hunger and injustice in Malawi. The funds you have raised will provide communities in Malawi with sustainable farming tools like seeds, watering systems and goats. 

Congratulations to our 2020 Award Winners!

Congratulations to our 2020 Award Winners!

Ray Spence, Bayfield High School

A big congratulations to our 2020 World Vision 40 Hour Famine award winners! 

Despite the challenges posed by a global pandemic, everyone who participated in the 2020 40 Hour Famine did an amazing job. These awards recognise schools and individuals that showed incredible compassion, drive and creativity in their efforts to fight hunger and injustice in Malawi.

This year was a special one for award recipient Ray Spence, of Bayfield High School, who commemorated 40 years of organising the World Vision 40 Hour Famine! We celebrated with him and Bayfield High School in Dunedin to present him with the Outstanding World Vision 40 Hour Famine Organiser Award.

Check out the full list of 2020 award winners.

It's not too late, you can still help make a difference for children in climate-vulnerable communities. Choose your challenge, start fundraising and join the fight against hunger and injustice in Malawi.

Create your own fundraising page to personalise, share and inspire others to support your mission.

Sign up now!
Are you an organiser?

Create a fundraising page for your school, church, or group to manage and encourage your team.

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Together with your help, we are supporting climate-vulnerable communities.

As we respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in our nation and around the world, climate-vulnerable communities around the world continue to experience the chaos caused by droughts and cyclones, resulting in food shortages, hunger and malnutrition. In these uncertain times, now, more than ever, it is your help that can make a real difference for children and their families, by providing them with the support they need to adapt to and survive the changing climate.

<h4>Tree seedlings for school gardens.</h4>

Tree seedlings for school gardens.

Youth Ambassadors visiting a school in Malawi planted tree seedlings with some of the students. The root systems from these trees help strengthen the soil on the hillside and reduce the impacts of rainfall on the community. 
 
<h4>Drought-resistant seeds.</h4>

Drought-resistant seeds.

Before Mathayo received drought-resistant seeds he was only able to harvest three bags of maize a year. Now he is getting 10 to 12 bags, which allows him to support his children PrayGod (11) and Clara (6) to eat well and go to school every day.
 
<h4>Community watering systems.</h4>

Community watering systems.

This valley in Rwanda could only support crops for a short 4-month season before the soil was too dry. Now with the use of an irrigation watering system, the community are growing nutritious crops all year round.
 

FAQs

Climate change refers to any significant change in the state of the climate that persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer. 

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the leading scientific forum for climate analysis, tells us that planet earth is currently warming in a historically unprecedented manner. Global temperatures have risen by 0.85 degrees Celsius between 1880 and 2012 and the global amounts of snow and ice have drastically diminished. While there are multiple complex drivers, the IPCC suggests that these changes can be mainly attributed to excessive levels of human-induced greenhouse gas emission, particularly the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) and the destruction of forests. Greenhouse gases collect in the atmosphere and, like a blanket, warm the surface of the earth. They are now at their highest levels in history. 

Evidence of climate change is seen in increased global average temperatures, rising sea levels, more frequent and intense storms and melting ice sheets and glaciers.
The environmental effects of climate change have major consequences for people all around the world. People living in poverty are most vulnerable, especially those who live in low-lying coastal areas such as islands in the Pacific. Climate change makes life harder and more dangerous for them, and adds to existing problems like food insecurity and water scarcity. 

We’ve already seen that droughts, cyclones and floods are more frequent, destroying homes and livelihoods. Seasons are less predictable and crops are failing, pushing millions into hunger. Sea levels are rising, forcing women, men and children to leave their homes and land. 

The social and economic impacts of climate change are making it more difficult for people to enjoy their basic human rights, including those related to food, health, water, housing and adequate standard of living.
We’ve seen the impact of climate change on the lives of the most vulnerable children we work with first-hand. Droughts, cyclones and floods are more frequent, destroying homes and livelihoods. Seasons are less predictable and crops are failing, pushing millions into hunger. Sea levels are rising, forcing women, men and children to leave their homes and land. 

The poor, especially children, are the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. They are least able to protect themselves from its effects and they are least able to recover from climatic disasters. 

In short, climate change will affect almost every aspect of World Vision’s work and mission in the years to come. As one of the world’s leading aid and development organisations, World Vision recognises that to serve the poor faithfully, we must take the challenge of climate change seriously.
World Vision is working to tackle climate change through programming and advocacy efforts. 

We are committed to helping communities prepare themselves for climate change. Our work is focused on building communities’ resilience to the effects of climate change, for example through disaster preparedness planning and improving food and water security measures. We are also working to increase environment-enhancing development activities such as reforestation, agro-forestry, and conservation farming in World Vision’s programmes. 

World Vision further advocates with governments to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions and fulfil their climate-related commitments under the Paris Agreement as well as the Sustainable Development Goals.
Climate change is happening, and it is affecting the poorest communities that World Vision works with, especially those in New Zealand’s Pacific backyard. We know the most vulnerable, especially children, are the most susceptible to the devastating effects of climate change and changes to their environment are already affecting their lives.

Climate change threatens the future generations of Pacific children. Because they are still growing, children are at greatest risk of the impacts of climate change on food supply. The greatest killers of children – malnutrition, diarrhoeal disease and malaria – will increase because of climate change.

A healthy environment is the basis for the future of children.
Climate change is a developmental problem, not just an environmental one. Many of the countries most vulnerable to extreme weather events and a changing climate are also those least able to afford to prepare for the worst, and these are countries where World Vision works. 

Climate change is threatening food security, agriculture, water supplies, economic development and health of the most vulnerable communities, especially children. Extreme weather conditions that are increasing as a result of climate change, pose health risks to communities, especially children. Diseases including diarrhoea, leptospirosis, cholera, and typhoid are increased by exposure to contaminated water or decreased hygiene due to water shortages. These diseases have the potential to kill children.

As sea levels rise climate change could cause large scale displacement of low lying regions, and affect crops and water supplies, threatening communities cultural connection with their land and their livelihood.

World Vision is working to help build sustainable resilience around the globe, including in the Pacific, to the effects of climate change.

Share your 40 Hour Famine challenge! #40HOURNZ