Tauranga students are gearing up to test themselves for this year’s World Vision 40 Hour Challenge, as multiple local venues light up orange in support of the nation’s largest youth fundraising campaign.

This year’s World Vision 40 Hour Challenge is encouraging participants to do “40 hours offline” to help raise funds for children in Solomon Islands affected by climate-driven hunger. 

Bethlehem College students will be undertaking a 40-hour “sport overnighter” and will stay at school for 40 hours to play a range of sports and games over the weekend of June 13-15.

Meanwhile, five local venues will be lighting up orange in support, including Wharf St lights, Beacon Wharf, Masonic Park, the Waterfront and Tunks Reserve.

Young people around the country are taking on all manner of other challenges, including living in a dinghy for 40 hours; speaking only Shakespearean English for 40 hours; making 400 paper cranes in 40 hours; and cooking 500 meals in 40 hours.

World Vision’s associate national director TJ Grant said he’s blown away by the challenges New Zealand’s young people were taking on for the World Vision 40 Hour Challenge.

“It’s inspiring to see so many young people put themselves to the test to support their peers in Solomon Islands who don’t get enough to eat each day due to the changing climate.

“I’m always so encouraged by the passion, ingenuity, and creativity of the challenges our young people demand of themselves and this year there’s the extra challenge to be offline for 40 hours! But that 40-hour sacrifice will make a world of difference for hungry children in Solomon Islands.”

Bethlehem College students taking part in the challenge last year. Photo / Supplied

A range of other New Zealand monuments were lighting up orange in support of the campaign, including Eden Park in Auckland, Christchurch Airport, Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington, the Botanical Gardens in Christchurch and the Saxton Oval Pavilion in Nelson.

Unique landmarks lighting up orange this year include the tunnel at Wellington Cable Cars, the Big Carrot in Ohakune, the Big Fruit in Cromwell, the KZ1 boat at Auckland’s Maritime Museum and the corrugated iron Sheep and Sheepdog in Tirau.

Funds raised as part of this year’s World Vision 40 Hour Challenge will give families in Solomon Islands tools and seeds to farm climate-smart crops, plant mangroves to protect their land from rising sea levels and restore fish populations and provide sustainable food sources for future generations to ensure children can grow up healthy and strong in a changing climate. 

The World Vision 40 Hour Challenge takes place from June 13–15. Sign up to take part or donate at 40hour.org.nz

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