Alex G

World Vision 40 Hour Challenge

Hi Everyone, 

This year as Head of Chapel, I have organised the Nga Tawa 40 hour Challenge. Previously, the 40 Hour Challenge has taken place over a weekend, but to be more inclusive we are holding events throughout the week so more girls can be participate with an aim to reach 400 hours of service in total. Over the week we are offering our service to the wider community. Our plan is to bake and donate a yummy morning tea to emergency services, the local chemist and the GP Clinic as their work helps the community and we feel it is important to share our appreciation of their hard work. We are also helping out at the community gardens as well as visiting the local rest home to spend time with the residents! We have many more local organisations that we are supporting. The World Vision 40 hour challenge is New Zealand’s largest youth fundraising campaign. World Vision was created in 1975 and since then thousands of New Zealanders have taken part to raise money and bring hope to thousands of young children and families living in poverty throughout more than 40 countries. Across the Pacific, 1 in 6 children are living with serious food shortages. Families rely on their home grown gardens and fishing for anything they eat. Due to climate change, sea levels around their homes are rising and flooding their gardens, crop growth is becoming less predictable, and fishing is not as reliable or safe as it used to be. Overall, a large percentage of children are missing out on nutritious food, that they need, in order to grow healthy and strong. 

Praynia is a ten year old girl who lives with her family in a remote coastal village in the Solomon Islands. Praynia’s family has always cared for their children by growing crops and fishing for food, however that food is becoming harder to rely on. The food that the community used to depend on is disappearing. Every day, Prayina sees adults in her community worrying as vegetables grow smaller and fishing takes longer due to fish moving further from the shore. In spite of it all, Prayina continues to be a top student who loves maths and enjoys science and English. While she dreams of becoming a doctor, she can only follow this dream if she is provided with good and nutritious food to grow healthy and strong, and enough of it so that her family can rely on it to support her through her years of learning. 

Through supporting the World Vision 40 Hour Challenge, you will be helping families with practical solutions to grow food that they will be able to rely on both today and in the future.

I feel very privileged to be able organise and participate in this years World Vision 40 Hour Challenge to help create change in the Solomon Islands. I would really appreciate your support along the way!