While not talking may have only lasted 45 minutes in last years’ challenge, Ranzau School students have nailed their challenges of eating only green food, using no furniture and no technology for this year’s 40 Hour Challenge.
Over the weekend of 21 and 22 June, students from Ranzau School took on the World Vision 40 Hour Challenge to support vulnerable communities bearing the brunt of climate crisis.
Previously known as the 40 Hour Famine, the modernised World Vision 40 Hour Challenge lets youth make a difference by choosing a 40-hour or 20-hour challenge and gathering sponsors to support vulnerable children globally.
This year, the focus was on raising awareness for climate-affected communities in Timor-Leste (East Timor).
“I could only eat green food - green food colouring would be cheating,” Year 6 pupil Barney Carson explains.
“I had green apples for breakfast, a huge bowl of spinach and lettuce for lunch, and my least two favourite foods for tea - broccoli and cucumber. It was very hard, and I was very hungry.”
Year 5 student Oak McIntyre opted to challenge herself with no technology for 20 hours.
“I drew and did other things instead. Dad watched the rugby on Saturday night, so I had to spend time away from the TV and I couldn’t watch my iPad or YouTube. It was hard, but I enjoyed doing other things. Last year, I picked the challenge not to talk but I failed after 45 minutes, my dad says I have oceans of words,” she says.
Lily Quinney, a Year 5 student and community council member, created her own challenge with her younger brother Fletcher and spent hours baking treats to be sold to family and friends to raise funds.
“It was a lot of baking, but I really liked it when Mum said we had raised some more money. Together with my brother we made slices, brownies, cupcakes and cookies.”
Other pupils took on some other interesting challenges. One went without using any furniture for 40 hours, and others packed everything they needed into a single backpack for the duration. Many children realised a little too late that the toys they packed did not feed their hungry tummies, quench their thirst, or brush their teeth.
The entire school dressed in the flag colours of Timor-Leste - black, orange and red - and each student donated a gold coin.
Together they raised over $1400, of which $189 was from the dress-up day and the rest raised by 11 students who took on individual challenges and gained sponsorship.
