For 30 hours this weekend, about 30 Boston University students fasted as part of an international project designed to raise awareness about and funds for world hunger.
In addition to fasting, the 30-Hour Famine included talks on world hunger and a portion of community service, concluding in a feast prepared by event participants.
Sponsored by the Student Union Project 100, the Famine was the first of its kind open to the entire BU community. In previous years, other, more isolated, groups at BU have carried on similar famines, but this year marked the first time the event was open to the entire school.
“This is a poignant way to illustrate to people in the United States that we are in solidarity with the rest of the world,” said Liz Russo, the event organizer and Project 100 chair. “Fifty cents will feed a child for a day.”
The event kicked off at 11 a.m. Friday at Marsh Chapel. Participants were asked not to eat for the entire 30 hours, but were encouraged to stay hydrated with juice and water.
Later Friday night, students gathered to talk about the problem of world hunger and learn more about the event from World Vision, a non-profit organization that provides international relief for developing countries, especially children.
College of Arts and Sciences freshman Sara Fernandes, who participated in a similar famine while in high school, originally proposed the event to the Student Union.
Organizers said similar events take place in about 20 countries around the world. Although the events are ongoing and vary from place to place, they usually take place in February and involve 30 hours of fasting.
On Saturday, event participants volunteered at the Boston Rescue Mission and Franciscan Children’s Hospital, a facility that provides programs and shelter for recovering and homeless communities. Participants there did general maintenance work, while volunteers at the Franciscan Children’s Hospital played with pediatric patients.
Aviva Asher, a College of General Studies freshman, said she enjoyed the community service portion of the event.
“[It] is good because it keeps everyone together thinking about the same thing,” she said. “It’s easier [to fast] when you keep busy.”
Some participants said they recognized their famine was nothing compared to that faced by millions of people around the world.
“The fasting is not bad because there is a very definite end in sight,” said CAS freshman Lucas Woodward.
“We know where our next meal is coming from,” Russo agreed. “The children we are raising money for don’t know when the next time they’ll eat will be.”
