Students around the world loving God and fighting hunger.
Your students will grow closer to Christ and each other as they fast together for 30 hours and raise funds to fight hunger. What’s more, when you do the Famine you’re challenging your students to be part of something bigger than themselves. To take action for God’s kingdom. To help save the lives of hungry kids. To permanently change the way your students see the world.
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.
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!
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.
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. Motivated by our faith in Jesus Christ, we serve alongside the poor and oppressed as a demonstration of God’s unconditional love for all people. We serve all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. Visit worldvision.org to learn more.
We can only support groups within the United States. 
In Canada? Click here!
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!
Yes! You can support a student, a team or give a general donation to the 30 Hour Famine!
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.
Since meeting in person might not be feasible for your group, we've included tips and ideas for hosting a virtual Famine event. Why go virtual? Even while following distancing guidelines, a space where students can see you, interact with each other, and stay connected is important - it'll help combat isolation and get them pumped to fight global hunger together.
All 30 Hour Famine materials were created for the exclusive purpose of helping your group raise funds for World Vision’s 30 Hour Famine. We ask that you not use these materials for any other purpose without World Vision’s express written consent — including sending all or part of the Famine funds you raise to another organization or using the funds for other mission programs.
We’ve got a lot of fundraising ideas to jump-start your creativity! Start by setting a fundraising goal. After you’ve given your group the facts about hunger, have them think about how many kids they’d like to help. Remind them that every $40 donation helps feed and care for a hungry child for a month, so if a student gets 12 donations of $40 each, they’ll be helping feed and care for a child for an entire year! Once you’ve set your goal, go all out! You can fundraise online, hold group fundraisers, invite local businesses to match donations, and more. Whatever you decide to do, we’re here to help! Sign up or log in today to get tools for promoting your Famine and helpful fundraising tips, or call us at 1.800.7.FAMINE (1.800.732.6463).
For some students, fasting lights the spark to their hunger-fighting passion. If this happens in your group, send what you’ve already raised immediately after your Famine weekend, so those funds get to work right away. Then tell students that they can continue fundraising all they want online. We will also send you additional ways to send in any late funds raised.
Due to the all digital nature of our program in 2023, shirts will not be available to purchase this year. You and your students can earn some rad 30 Hour Famine t-shirts through fundraising though!
Leaders of all groups should fill out this form to ensure their students receive their fundraising rewards. Rewards will be shipped monthly starting in May 2023. We are working on a better system so that rewards will be received quicker in 2024 so please stay tuned!
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.
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.
See above for all the awesome resources we'll provide you! Plus, our team is always here for you! Whenever you need ideas, want more resources, or have questions, you can email us at 30hfsupport@worldvision.org or call 1.800.7.FAMINE (1.800.732.6463).
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.
We love questions! Email us at 30hfsupport@worldvision.org or call 1.800.7.FAMINE (1.800.732.6463).
Get The Word Out