“I pray that every child in the Philippines and the whole world would have enough food to eat. I pray that leaders of countries would be willing to help by setting aside their personal agendas to prioritize their people and that everyone will unite as one to help stop hunger and make a difference,”this is the sincere prayer of one of the youth participants of the recent “12-hour Famine” campaign.

Led by World Vision- an international child-focused organization- the “Famine” Program has grown to be the biggest global youth movement against hunger that gathers young people from across the world to go without food for a given number of hours as a sign of their radical fight against hunger.
 

Over 1,000 youth rally against hunger putting the Philippines in the list of countries doing the “Famine” Campaign.
 

The “Famine” has been going on for decades in countries like the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdon, Korea, Taiwan, and Malaysia, to name a few, drawing atleast 10,000 youth per country during their “Famine Rallies” that run for 40, 30, or 24 hours straight! Annually, hundreds and thousands of youth are gathered in these rallies that are held in over 20 countries.

Just recently, the Philippines held its first ever “12-hour Famine” registering more than 2,500 youth from various schools and gathering over one thousand youth participants during the rally. The event was held at the Flying V Arena in San Juan.
 
Stars lead “hunger rally”
Many of the biggest names in media and entertainment led the 12-hour hunger period assuring the youth of the enormous contribution they are making by voluntarily fasting from food and raising awareness on the urgent reality of hunger.

The 12-hour period started with video presentations stating the hunger problem in the country with staggering statistics such as “Every 7 seconds 1 hungry child dies” or “4 millions Filipino families live on less than P42 pesos every day” shocking the students—80% of which were from big, exclusive schools.

 
Then, guest speakers from different fields shared their insights and reminded the youth of their huge responsibility. Among them were: renowned broadcaster and World Vision Goodwill Ambassador Karen Davila, director Paul Soriano who’s done documentaries on hunger issues, celebrity entrepreneur and Famine Ambassador Cristalle Belo-Henares, and UN Goodwill Ambassador for its Food and Agriculture Organization Lea Salonga.
 
Lea, also a World Vision Ambassador, led the Arena to a ceremonial paper-plane-flying activity. After hearing the plight of the hungry, the youth were invited to write on slips of papers their prayers, hopes, and dreams for hungry children across the world. The papers were then folded into planes and thrown to the air on Lea’s cue signifying their desire for all these children to soar and reach their dreams.
 
“You are an inspiring generation! And with all of you being here, you are raising awareness about hunger. The more you do this the more the world gets to realize that there is a problem!” Lea shared.
 
Basketball star Chris Tiu and the Smart Gilas National Team set screaming fans across the Arena. After Chris affirmed the youth of their noble sacrifice, the entire team joined a simple game participated in by their fans. Then, the players went around the bleachers carrying buckets trying to raise money for the cause. Surprisingly, in just a few minutes they raised P12,000-- all of which will go to feed children in poor provinces.
 
The 12-hour period approached its end with World Vision Youth Ambassador Nikki Gil leading the Arena to a Ceremonial Commitment. “The Famine campaign is just the beginning of your commitment to help these hungry children… I pray that it will not stop after you leave this place, but that you will continue to advocate and support this cause!” Nikki appealed.  
 
Then, a closing song number to celebrate the end of the fasting period was led by Nikki joined by World Vision Ambassador for Children Tippy dos Santos and Sam Concepcion.
 
Other guests who joined the event offering their support and performing for free were Krissy and Ericka Villongco, Janeena Chan, Jan Marini, Dj and Micah Lamar, Joaqui Tupaz, Cat Natividad, Marco Manalac, DJ Jordan Escusa, Lia Cruz, Truefaith, Salamin, Marc Nelson, Dingdong Dantes, Gab Valenciano, Miriam Quiambao, and Ruffa Gutierrez and her kids.
 
There was also a long list of other bands and other group performers, including dance groups from UE, Poveda, Assumption, Miriam College, and the Muntinlupa Science Choir.  
 
Making the event possible and creating history with World Vision are generous corporate partners such as Folded & Hung for the stylish Famine shirts, Maynilad Water, Pepsi and Smart-C for free refreshments during the fast, Goldilocks, Binalot, and Oishi for providing food to break the fast, Cornerstone and Bates 141 for the awesome talents, Samsung for the raffled phones and LCD TVs for the countdown clock, Belo Essentials, Johnson and Johnson and Listerine for the giveaways Metal-Lite for making our VIP room more comfortable, The Events Factory for the great production support. These partners put their hands in to provide what they could.
 
Youth“Fun-raising”
Over 1.3 million in cash donations and pledges were raised during the 12 hours. All these will help provide food to poor families in communities World Vision supports across the country.

 
At one point in the program, the youth were challenged to use their creativity to help raise funds for the hungry. Working to achieve their own target amount, different groups came up with a variety of fun fundraising plans they hope to accomplish in the following months.
 
“Fun-raising” ideas ranged from doing a fun run, holding talent shows that aim to raise as much as 50,000 pesos, placing coin banks around schools, “Spy Camera” that will capture students’ candid moments with the threat of posting them online if the subject doesn’t buy it, “Send me Love” a Valentines delivery service around school, the “Bb. Katipunera” a women’s rights awareness, and whole lot more!
 
All these ideas are now being rolled out in different schools across Metro Manila. All funds raised will be donated to World Vision.
    
Overwhelming feedback
Without a doubt the participants understood why they were gathered rallying against hunger and appreciated the sacrifice they did for 12 hours. The World Vision Famine Facebook and Twitter sites were flooded with positive feedback both during and after the event.
 
“Will always cherish my experience at the WorldVision Famine! Feels so good to be part of something big and significant! Next year ulet!”

 “I joined the WorldVision Famine. I fasted for 12 hours to fight hunger [and] to save the world’s hungry children!”

“Yesterday was a great experience for me! Now I know how it's like to be hungry for a day! I hope there will be another 12-hour Famine in the future! It's time for us to realize the extent of hunger and poverty and how it affects the poor families. Let's DO SOMETHING!”

“I haven`t eaten anything yet. Tho I wasn`t able to go there, I`m still fasting for 12 hours. I`m really getting into this! :) Today`s one remarkable day for all of us cause we`re eating nothing to do something!”

“Friends from other schools & universities! WE MADE IT! WorldVision Famineevent made us realized that we are really fortunate. 12hours without eating solid food wasn’t easy, but I believe that this advocacy towards hunger and poverty will change the lives of our less fortunate kababayans. But the Crazy fun experience ...chosen to play TIMBAsketball with the Smart Gilas Phil Basketball team made my day!”

“Thanks, too, for such a noble cause & wonderful event...yes! we'll see you next year...count me in...=)”

“What an awesome experience you have left for us. Not only that, this event made us realize that we are really that fortunate to have 3 meals in our table a day. Though the WiFi didn't work [on] my phone, I believe that I updated myself [with] God through words of prayer and I believe that He is happy [with] our generation who participated in this event. Godbless WorldVision and Godbless the Philippines! :)”

“‎12 hour famine was a success!! 15 and a half [hours] for me though. Thank you so much [my schoolmates] Assumption Famine Participants, most especially the volunteers. Thank you thank you! Congratulations to WorldVision Famine!! Hoorrraaaayyy!! :)”
 
To see more of these posts or to add your own Famine comments & experiences add WorldVision Famine on Facebook also catch the latest news on Twitter #12hrfamine.

Hunger for Change!
During those 12 hours youth participants saw and experienced for themselves how it was to be hungry and not have food accessible to them. By this, World Vision hopes that they have gaineda deeper understanding of how it’s actually like to go without food-- with their sacrifice allowingthem a glimpse of hunger, an everyday reality for millions of Filipinos today.   
 
With these youth “champions” World Vision, through the Famine program, strives to build a young generation of people who are socially aware and willing to stand up and begin positive change for the generations to come. World Vision believes in the capacity of the youth to lead and become the voice of the poor and oppressed.
 
“We are starting them young; World Vision has taken its fight against hunger in the arena of the young. Tapping into the youth’s ideals of social justice, responsibility and vigilance. We are raising a generation of givers,” Shared Boris Joaquin, World Vision Marketing Director.
 
Those over one thousand Pinoy youth who took part in the “12-hour Famine” is just a percentage of the thousands more across the world sharing the same vision of a world without hunger.
 
“There was a time when our parents are the only ones doing charity work in work in church or the community. Today, the average young Pinoy begins to learn that giving and helping is not the exclusive arena of the rich and “blessed”.  Even an everyday employee living on a modest salary, or college friends pooling their baon together, or the elementary school child on an allowance begins to realize that they, too, could help - with just the will to make it so,” he adds.