MISSISSAUGA, Ont. (March 5, 2010) – On April 16, more than 100,000 Canadian youth will participate in the 39^th annual World Vision 30 Hour Famine. Youth will go hungry for 30 hours and raise funds in an effort to help Haiti quake survivors while also supporting the fight against global hunger. A portion of funds raised by participants will address immediate relief and long-term needs such as providing emergency supplies, shelter, food and the protection of children. More than 230,000 Haitians were killed during the quake and more than one million have been left homeless, many of these are children who have become orphans.

“The Haitian earthquake destroyed so many lives and has left millions without adequate access to basic needs like food, and water. Many of the lives affected are children,” says T.J. Grant, manager, World Vision 30 Hour Famine. “We’ve already seen an out-pouring of generosity from youth across Canada who want to do something to help. By participating in the Famine, youth can directly make an impact by helping those who were hardest hit by the quake.”
Famine funding will continue to support on-going efforts to eradicate hunger, poverty and injustice around the world, providing assistance to countries like Brazil, Cambodia, Ghana, Kenya, India, Peru and Thailand. Funds from this year’s campaign will also support reducing sexual violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and by empowering children in conflict-prone areas of the Philippines to become advocates for peace.

“The World Vision 30 Hour Famine is proof that youth can make a difference in the world,” says Grant. “Preventing hunger and malnutrition needs to be top of mind as more and more innocent children die of preventable causes. We want Canadian youth to encourage their friends, families and communities to get involved to raise more to support our work.”

The World Vision 30 Hour Famine is a youth-action campaign that teaches teens about global issues such as poverty, hunger conflict, and HIV and AIDS. World Vision is calling on youth to become agents of change and join in the fight against hunger to help thousands of vulnerable children and families in developing countries. Last year, youth raised $4 million through this national campaign. This year the goal is to raise $5 million across Canada. To learn more about how to participate, please visit Famine.ca.

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World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information or to donate to the Haiti relief effort, please visit WorldVision.ca.

For more information, or to arrange an interview, contact:

Corina Chevalier
905-565-6200 ext. 3899
Corina_Chevalier@worldvision.ca

Karen Flores
905-565-6200 ext. 3497
Karen_Flores@worldvision.ca