Questions about the timing of the Famine
- When is the Famine?
- What time do I start my Famine?
- When can I get my Sponsor Book?
- Can I ask for sponsors after the Famine?
Questions about Sponsor Books
- I haven't got my Sponsor Book yet, what should I do?
- I have/haven't got my Sponsor Book yet - but I don't want to do the Famine anymore. What should I do?
- I got my Sponsor Book through the mail, but I also got one from school. What should I do?
- I lost my Sponsor Book, what should I do?
- I was sent a Sponsor Book but I didn't ask for it. What should I do?
- I've used all the space in my Sponsor Book and want to collect more sponsors. What should I do?
Questions about what participants are allowed / not allowed to do
- I am only (x) years old; can I do the 40 hour Famine?
- What am I allowed to eat over the weekend if I am doing the food Famine?
- What kind of juice should I drink?
- When should I not do the food Famine?
Questions about the money raised
- What should I do with the money I collect?
- What happens to all World Vision New Zealand donations?
- Where will the Famine funds go?
Questions about the online Famine profile
- What is an online Famine profile for?
- Does an online Famine profile mean that I don’t require a paper Sponsor book?
Questions about the timing of the Famine:
When is the Famine?
The official Famine weekend is May 22-24, 2009. However, you can do the Famine any time before or after the official weekend.
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What time do I start my Famine?
- If you're doing 40 Hours start 8pm Friday and finish 12pm Sunday
- If you're doing 20 Hours start 8pm Friday and finish 4pm Saturday
- If you are doing a no food Famine and are 8 to 10 years old start 6pm Friday and finish 2pm Saturday (have an early dinner on Friday and late lunch on Saturday so that you only miss one meal)
- If you are under 8 years of age, check with a parent
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When can I get my Sponsor Book?
If you register as part of your school or group, your Famine Organiser should have books ready to give out to you from March. If you register as an individual your Sponsor Book will be sent out after 23 March. If you register after the 23rd of March you will receive your Sponsor Book within a week of registering provided the address details you give are accurate.
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Can I ask for sponsors after the Famine?
It is up to each individual sponsor if they are happy to sponsor you after you have done the Famine.
Questions about Sponsor Books:
I haven't got my Sponsor Book yet, what should I do?
If you're getting a book from school or group, ask your school or group's Famine Organiser if they have received the Sponsor Books. If you've registered with the 40 Hour Famine directly and have not received your Sponsor Book within a week of registration then call us on 0800 FAMINE. While you are waiting for your Sponsor Book you can still collect pledges through your online Fundraising profile.
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I have/haven't got my Sponsor Book yet - but I don't want to do the Famine anymore. What should I do?
If you have a book from your school or group, then tell your Famine Organiser that you no longer want to take part and return the book to them. If you've registered as an individual then send the book back to World Vision, preferably with a note about why you don't want to do the Famine. We will then cancel your registration.
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I got my Sponsor Book through the mail, but I also got one from school. What should I do?
You should keep the book you received from your school/group. Send the pack that you have received in the mail back to World Vision with a note saying you are doing it at school/group; remember to tell us the name of your school/group.
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I lost my Sponsor Book, what should I do?
If you received the book from a group or school, then inform your Famine Organiser. If your Sponsor Book was sent directly to you, then ring the Famine Team on 0800 FAMINE (326 463) and we will send you a new book so you can give your sponsors a receipt. You will need to remember who your sponsors are so you can collect money from them.
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I was sent a Sponsor Book but I didn't ask for it. What should I do?
Sorry about that! It might be because you did a really excellent job last year. Would you still like to do the Famine? If you do, then keep hold of the book and work on getting sponsors. If you really don't want to do the Famine simply contact the Famine team online, or call us on 0800 FAMINE (326463) to cancel.
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I've used all the space in my Sponsor Book and want to collect more sponsors. What should I do?
Well done! If you got your book from a school or group, then ask the organiser for another book. If you got your book through the mail, then contact the Famine Team (nzfamine@worldvision.org.nz) or call us on 0800 FAMINE (326 463) and we will send you an extra book.
Questions about what participants are allowed / not allowed to do:
I am only (x) years old; can I do the 40 hour Famine?
Have a look at the guidelines below to see what Famine you should do for your age.
Under 8 years
Talk to your parents or school teacher about what you could do
Primary or 8 - 10 years
20 Hour Famine. Start 6pm Friday - 2pm Saturday (miss one meal only)
Intermediate or 11 - 13 years
20 Hour Famine. Start 8pm Friday - 4pm Saturday
High school or 14 years and over
40 Hour Famine. Start 8pm Friday - 11am Sunday
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What am I allowed to eat over the weekend if I am doing the food Famine?
You're allowed to have barley sugars, or another glucose product, every meal or snack time. You should also drink plenty of natural juices (Just Juice is the official juice of the 40 Hour Famine) and water. Don't forget to check out the food Famine guidelines!
What kind of juice should I drink?
Just Juice is the official sponsor of the 40 Hour Famine. You can either drink Just Juice, or Just Juice Splash, and for every specially marked 1litre bottle of Just Juice sold, 5c goes to support 7,000 malnourished children living in Bangladesh.
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When should I NOT do the food Famine?
If you're sick, have diabetes, have a dietary health problem, are on medication, are pregnant or breast-feeding, are elderly or under 8 years old. If you are playing sport, you should choose a different Famine. If you have any doubts, you should check with your doctor first.
Questions about the money raised:
What should I do with the money I collect?
If you got your Sponsor Book from a school or group, then take the money and the Sponsor book back to your school or group's Famine Organiser by 3 July.
If you are doing the Famine as an 'individual' and you got your Sponsor book through the mail, then bank the money at any National Bank using the deposit slips in the middle of the book. Ask an adult to help if you need it. Then send the book back to World Vision.
Note: All money raised through your online Famine profile automatically goes to your school, group or individual Famine record.
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What happens to all World Vision New Zealand donations?
75% of funds raised goes to support our projects overseas, with the remaining 25% used for essential administration and fundraising costs in New Zealand.
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Where will the Famine funds go?
Money raised in Famine 2009 is going to support a number of different projects in countries such as Cambodia, India, East Timor, Bangladesh and Rwanda. A key focus this year is on improving the health of malnourished children living in Bangladesh.
Famine '09 funds will also be used to support emergency funds, so when disaster strikes, we are prepared and able to provide help to people in need very quickly. For more info about specific projects go to the Famine Hope Catalogue.
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Questions about the online Famine profile:
What is an online Famine profile for?
It's exactly the same as the standard paper Sponsor Book it just gives you the opportunity to get sponsors donating to the cause through the Famine website.
To use the online Sponsor Book first sign up and activate your online Famine profile. Then spread the word that people can sponsor you in person and/or via the web. You can do this by sending sponsors an email with a link to your unique URL (famine.org.nz/[your username]).
To activate your online Famine profile click the register button that's at the top of every page.
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Does an online Famine profile mean that I don't require a paper Sponsor book?
No – you use both your online and paper versions of your Sponsor book together to collect pledges and sponsors. Having an online Famine profile to accompany your Sponsor Book means that you can reach people you wouldn't get to see in person to ask them to sponsor you. If you haven't already, activate your online Famine profile now!
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Related Links
More information about World Vision New Zealand and where we work.