For New Zealand students, the 40-hour Famine invites a certain kind of creative thinking – from being stuck inside a gondola to holding a concert.
Many consider it a rite of passage for Kiwi kids. Pakuranga College students are no exception. On Friday June 25 they participated in an innovative activity to raise money for the 40-hour World Vision Famine.
Dozens of students pooled together to either watch or participate as sponges or buckets of water were dumped over the heads of senior classmates – for a modest fee. The team involved in raising money for the ‘Wet the Head’ cause is a mix of about 30 Year 12 and 13 students.
It was Lucy, a Year 13 student, and Kent, one of the student leaders, who were pummelled with water, who came up with the idea. “We’ve all been involved,” Lucy says. The event was organised by the College’s Interact and Service Councils. “It took us about two weeks,”
Trista, a council member and Year 13 student, says. “It was our biggest event this year.” Music from Mai FM’s (88.6) night announcer Randy accompanied the cheers and claps. Members from World Vision were also present.
This is the second fundraising event set up by the Pakuranga College team. The first was a bake sale which raised $1600. They raised $600 with the ‘Wet the Head’ activity.
Last year around 40,000 New Zealand kids participated in the World Vision 40-hour Famine raising around $1.1 million.
All proceeds help give kids in sub-Saharan Africa food and other items. “It’s for a good cause,” Trista says. “I’m really proud of what we’ve done.”
