Next time you see images of starving mainland children on television, don't just let out a sympathetic sigh - do something to help. More than 100 students volunteered to experience the hardship to raise money for charity.
The first famine camp jointly organised by seven international and local schools attracted 130 participants and raised $20,000 for the World Vision China Fund.
According to the organiser, Simon Lam Siu-ching, the money will be donated to education projects in Yunnan, Nanning and Xian. These will include providing study opportunities for poor children, building and renovating schools, training teachers and conducting literacy classes for both men and women.
'Money is not our biggest concern. We are trying to raise awareness of poverty among youth,' he said.
Games at the camp were about famine and hunger. For example, 'famine ad' required participants to think of a product aimed at the poor and sell it through advertising.
'The most touching moment came with the song We Are The World, ' recalled 17-year-old Suek Yat-ling of Tak Nga Secondary School. She thought the greatest achievement of the 20-hour famine camp was that it allowed young people to understand the world was far from perfect and they should give a helping hand.
