Later today about 35 students from Bermuda High School, Saltus and Warwick Academy will head to CedarBridge Academy to participate in a 30-hour fast aimed at raising funds for the hungry children in Africa.

The 30-hour Famine is an initiative of World Vision whose national famine dates were observed on February 21 and 22, aimed at allowing youth group members to raise money through sponsors and donors to help the millions of starving and hurting children in some of the world poorest countries.

This will be the first time the 30-Hour Famine will be held in Bermuda, with Bermuda High School student Sarah DeSilva - a youth leader with World Vision - taking the initiative and organising it. In just two weeks of organising she managed to get 35 students, aged between 14 and 17, to participate by going 30 hours without solid food.

"I created the sponsorship forms and wrote letters to parents," said Miss DeSilva, 15.

"It's mostly girls (participating) as I go to BHS, but there are a few other schools involved as well, two, I believe from Saltus and five from Warwick Academy, including the head boy.

"I first met with Mrs. (Sheena) Notter, the Donor Relations Coordinator (of World Vision Bermuda) and we got so excited about the 30-hour famine in the first meeting that we just decided to do it. The next day I had already had ten people who were going to do it.

"We've never had anything like this in Bermuda, it's normally held on February 22 and 23 but you can do it any time you want."

Miss DeSilva has already raised $600, including receiving a donation from Making Waves where she works on Saturdays. A schoolmate, Christine Herrero, has raised about $750 and, with the money raised from the other participants, including a bake sale at BHS today, a good amount should be raised for the Hope Initiative which cares for children and families in Africa affected by HIV/AIDS. There is also a telethon planned for next month.

"If you reach $500 you are eligible to go on a Study Tour where you go away and help out with the World Vision board in impoverished countries, however just a few days ago they said it was only open to US citizens," said Miss DeSilva who admits she and Miss Herrero were also motivated by the prospect of qualifying for the Study Tour trip.

"But it is still good that we were able to raise so much money," she said.

"Making Waves made a large donation because they wanted to see me reach the $500 (mark)."

As of 5 p.m. today those participating in the 30-hour famine will not be eating any solid food, just water and juice. They will sleep at the gym and the next day will do community service for three hours at Matilda Smith Williams Senior Residence, working on the gardens and grounds from 9 a.m. to noon.

"Then when we come back there will be a lady holding a philanthropy workshop and we were also learn more about Hope Initiative and World Vision," said Miss DeSilva who has also asked the group to bring a can or two of food which they will donate to a local charity.

"That way we can do little things to help the community as well as a charity overseas. We're going to show them the Hope Initiative video which will tell them about the problems with AIDS and where the money will go."

"The Hope Initiative is a $100 million worldwide campaign to help care for a generation of children impacted by HIV/AIDS. Their immediate goal is to provide comprehensive assistance to orphans and vulnerable children living in 17 countries worldwide. It is estimated there are more than 14 million orphans around the world who have lost one or both parents to the AIDS pandemic.

It is estimated that by the year 2010 the number of orphans will nearly quadruple to 42 million. In some areas of Africa where World Vision works, one out of every three children is an orphan.

For most of the teens participating in the 30-hour famine, going without solid food for 30 hours will be a challenge, but it will also enable them to better identify what some of what starving children around the world go through on a daily basis.

"Christine Herrero actually did a 24-hour famine when they weren't allowed to drink any fluids and she did that during school time," explained Miss DeSilva.

"She is the only one I know who has actually been involved in the same type of fundraising event. I think as a group it will be easier to do it. We will also have study and homework time because a lot of them are doing the GCSEs on the Monday so they will bring their study material with them.

"I also think it is good for Bermuda to get the awareness that youth also have the ability to raise money, make a change and make a difference without be a part of an adult fundraising event."

She added: "I actually had a lot more people who wanted to do it if they didn't have commitments. I would have gotten about 50 to 60 people if they didn't have commitments."

Ms. Notter is impressed with the initiative shown by Miss DeSilva.

"She is one of the co-leaders of our youth team initiative," she said.

"She and another young lady (Racquel Liverpool) have joined our volunteer programme and this is just an outreach of that. Sarah's group is called the Famine Fighters.

"World Vision has a 30-hour famine programme anyway and she wanted to do the same thing here. It hasn't been done here before. She's an unusual young girl, she has already expressed philanthropic interests, she cares about other people and has a passion for this.

"It is something you need to experience to understand how other people deal with tragedy. It's a quality that's lacking and I'm glad to see it in her."

The 30-hour Famine ends at 11 p.m. and Four Star Pizza will be donating pizzas for the participants.