Were you in town for the Great Singapore Sale on Saturday, 5 June? If so, you would have caught the amazing sight of more than 1,000 youths in bright orange T-shirts taking to the streets of Orchard Road as part of World Vision Singapore’s annual 30 HOUR FAMINE Camp!

The 30 HOUR FAMINE is an international youth movement to raise awareness of the issues of poverty around the world. In Singapore, the 30 HOUR FAMINE Camp held Friday 4 June – Saturday 5 June immersed youth campers aged 15- 18 years old in a massive “Game of Life”. Campers participated in simulated activities to experience the daily lives and hardships of people trapped in poverty. The role play scenarios were brought to a close with a powerful sharing by Mr. Vi Do, a real-life former street child from Vietnam, who was rescued by Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation (a street children’s centre funded by World Vision). Michael Brosowski, the founder of the street children’s centre, was also present to inspire the campers that it takes just one person, with enough passion, to make a difference in the lives of disadvantaged children.

This year, for the very first time, beyond giving Singaporean youths a first hand taste of poverty, camp participants were challenged to rise up as advocates to Bring FAMINE to the Streets! Fuelled by their experiences and reflections from the first day, campers were empowered to raise awareness of global poverty and hunger in fresh and innovative ways through participating in large-scale activities held in the heart of Orchard Road.

Firstly, all 1,088 camp participants rallied together to successfully enter the Singapore Book of Records as the Most Number of People Setting up Cardboard Tents at the Same Time by building 86 cardboard shelters concurrently in less than two hours! More than just fun and games, the record was created to highlight the plight of vulnerable street children in Asia, many of whom had been trafficked into prostitution and vice. Campers also took time to reflect upon the HIV/AIDS pandemic in these communities, and pledged to reduce stigma and discrimination associated with the disease.

Shortly after, the camp participants thronged the main shopping belt between ION Orchard, Wisma Atria and Ngee Ann City, as World Vision collaborated with the Singapore Street Festival in a series of street-dance flash mobs in celebration of the Youth Olympic Games. The street activities culminated in simple but attention-grabbing I’m Hungry, But They’re Starving flash mobs in front of Mandarin Gallery, raising awareness amongst Singaporeans of the somber fact that millions of children worldwide lacked access to food and basic necessities. Finally, at the 29th hour, campers gathered at *Scape Building for an open-air finale concert to celebrate the long-awaited end of the 30-hour food fast!

World Vision Singapore is deeply grateful for the kind support from all our wonderful partners and generous sponsors!


Most of all, we wish to thank all campers and volunteers who participated in the 30 HOUR FAMINE Camp 2010! You were awesome! Also, thanks to official photographers Aaron, Louis, Wayne and Kenneth – who lugged their heavy equipment around the campus and town – we’ve managed to capture great shots of hungry campers standing up for the starving children of the world.  

To savour 30 Hour Famine, do check out the event photos on our Facebook Fan Page, as well as video footage on Razor TV and Klik TV here!