Some children in the class were looking forward to the trip because they usually didn’t get to ride a bus to school. Others in the class had been enjoying the study of their town’s history and learning about what early life had been like for their ancestors.

　　Each year, World Vision decides which countries will receive funding from the 30-Hour Famine. In 2001, for example, the money went to Rwanda, India, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, Guatemala, Mali, Tanzania and the fund raising countries. In India, the money is being used to rescue children from sweatshops. In Ethiopia, where a drought has swept the land and robbed it of its vegetation, the money is being used for reforestation and soil management programs. Eighty per cent of all money raised goes to help children, with the other 20 per cent spent on staff salaries and marketing to increase awareness of world hunger.

　　Now that you know about the 30-Hour Famine and the difference it can make for children around the world, what are you going to do? You can visit , learn about the campaigns in your country, register to participate in a 30-Hour Famine and plunge whole-heartedly into your hunger!

        For decades, childhood obesity rates have been on the rise. Now some U.S. cities are seeing progress in their fight against fat. New York City showed a 5.5% drop in the number of overweight children from 2007 to 2011. Philadelphia showed a 4.7% drop, and Los Angeles a 3% drop. Declining childhood obesity rates have also been reported in parts of Mississippi, the state with the highest obesity rate in the nation.
        In 2011, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began a project to combat childhood obesity. The project’s goal is to find ways to make healthy changes in a community’s schools, food stores, parks and other places. For example, Philadelphia works with an organization called the Food Trust to connect schools with local farms and bring fresh vegetables to cafeterias. New York City has required chain restaurants to post calorie information on their menus. Mississippi created a program called “Fruits & Veggies: More Matters” to teach kids how to add healthy foods to their daily diets. These examples send a clear message: Any community that makes these kinds of changes over a few years will see their children get healthier.
        Now schools nationwide are doing their part. Fried food has disappeared from many cafeteria menus. Whole-wheat bread has replaced white bread. Drinks like water and low-fat milk have replaced sugary beverages, including fruit punch, sports drinks and soda. Many schools have banned junk food and require healthier snack options in vending machines.