VCI students raise money through 'famine'

A group of 53 students from Vankleek Hill Collegiate Institute (VCI) took part in a famine at VCI on Thursday, December 3 leading into Friday, December 4. The famine began at 8 a.m. Thursday morning and ended at 8 a.m. Friday morning. The students of VCI attended classes regularly until their dismissal time at 2:10 p.m., at which point the students were told to report to the gymnasium to continue the famine.
The famine was arranged to raise money for Child Haven International; an organization which raises money to assist women and children in four separate third-world countries in Asia. Child Haven International encourages high school students to hold famines to raise money which, in turn, helps children in third-world countries. Students collect pledges before the famine. It also demonstrates to the students how difficult it is to go 24 hours without eating food.
Once inside the gymnasium, most students set up their sleeping bags to prepare for the long wait ahead. There were activities such as sports being played on one side of the gym while the other side was held with the sleeping bags and video games, which people brought for entertainment, as well as books, playing cards and other items to occupy their time. To finish the night off, a movie was set up for the students to watch.
In the morning, the students got a rude awakening at Matt Williams, the wood-shop teacher and teacher supervisor of the event, played the national anthem, waking most of the students up. The students then started to clean up the gymnasium in anticipation for the pizza party to follow.
When asked about the famine, Williams said “We were happy with the turnout and estatic with the amount we raised.” In total, the students raised over $1,600 from sponsors.