March 22, 2005: Headlines: COS - Togo: Fund Raising: Hunger: Eastbayri.com: Togo RPCV Becky Binns helps organize 30-hour fast

Peace Corps Online: Peace Corps News: Peace Corps Library: Fund Raising: Peace Corps: Fund Raising : Fund Raising and the Peace Corps: March 22, 2005: Headlines: COS - Togo: Fund Raising: Hunger: Eastbayri.com: Togo RPCV Becky Binns helps organize 30-hour fast

By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-181-108.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.181.108) on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 1:52 am: Edit Post

Togo RPCV Becky Binns helps organize 30-hour fast

Togo RPCV Becky Binns helps organize  30-hour fast

Togo RPCV Becky Binns helps organize 30-hour fast

30-hour fast helps raise $3,000

Caption: Chelsea Silva, Emily Henthorne and Ali Bulman (left to right) find other members of their "tribe" while blindfolded during a 30-hour fast event held at St. John's Church recently.

BARRINGTON - It was a regular teenage gathering, with one minor difference — there was absolutely nothing to eat. A total of 19 teenagers and two youth leaders from two Episcopal churches met last week for a 30-hour fast. The food-free event was both a learning experience for the students and a fund-raiser for impoverished areas of the world.

The church groups raised more than $3,000 for the cause, which will increase to more than $21,000 through a government grant which multiplies the group's contribution sevenfold, according to St. John's Director of Children and Youth Ministries, Becky Binns.

The chance to help others outweighed the hunger pains, said David Trost, 13.

"It's awesome because we're helping out people all over the world just by this small community thing. You wouldn't think 20 people could make a difference, but we can," he said.

The participants, all between the ages of 13 and 18, met at noon on Saturday, Feb. 26. On their honor, they were not to have eaten any food since midnight on Friday. They spent the entire 30-hour period with only water and Gatorade.

On Sunday morning, with stomachs growling, they were allowed a breakfast of rice, beans and fruit.

"I am hungry," said Erica Covington, 14, a few hours into the fast, "but I think it's really cool and great the way we're helping out other people who don't have as much as we do."

Two of the teens, Jesse Shelto and Lauren Bayuk, decided at almost the last minute to participate. They signed up the day before the event.

"It was just to see how it feels to be hungry all the time, and see if I can go 30 hours," Lauren said.

Keeping busy

The 30-hour fast was also a chance for St. John's youth group members to meet with other people their age from Grace Chapel in Providence. The groups passed the time with interesting ethnic activities. During most exercises, Cuban, African or Mexican music played in the background.

"It's from countries where they're starving," David Trost said.

An interesting game, called "Tribe," occupied much of Saturday afternoon and evening. It was developed by World Vision, the organization which established the guidelines for the 30-hour fast.

For the game, each teen took on the persona of an African native. More than simply a way to pass the time, it was an interactive avenue to understanding the people and the manner of survival for those half a world away, where drought and famine are a frequent reality. Ms. Binns' travels — she spent two years in the Peace Corps, most of the time working in Togo, Africa — provided additional insight into the people of the country.

"The people are nomadic cattle herders living in Kenya and Tanzania. I got to visit them when I was in Kenya," she said. "They do this dance where they just keep their feet together, and jump like five feet off the ground."

To start the game, blindfolds were handed out to each teen. Walking, they each called out the name of their tribe to find others in the same tribe. Several teens were designated "orphans" and had to find any of three tribes who would adopt them. Some of the blindfolds were used to tie an arm behind a back or wrap around a leg to represent a disability.

The fast participants also spent time customizing notebooks with glitter and feathers and pictures cut from magazines, creating journals to chronicle their experience and thoughts.

The results varied from Tristan Tavares' simple "Hi" on the front cover, to Jack Hunter's pictures of a lizard with the words "Go there" and "Expand your universe."

No food for 30 hours

* Midnight Friday night to noon Saturday: Teens sleep at home, skip breakfast and lunch, organize and grab their gear

* Noon to 2 p.m.: Arrive at St. John's Church, stow gear, share Mayan prayer and play get-to-know-you games like "name circle"

* 2 to 3:30: Journal-making and writing project

* 3:30 to 5: Play the game "Ships and Sailors," and introduce "Tribe" game

* 5 to 5:30: Break

* 5:30 to 6:15: Church service for the teens led by Rev. Juliana Anderson

* 6:15 to 6:45: Quiet time, write in journals, silent meditation

* 6:45 to 8:30: Tribe game and beverage break

* 8:30 to 9:15: Service project, writing letters to soldiers, and making recycle bins for St. John's Church

* 9:15 to 9:30: Conclusion of Tribe game and prize distribution

* 9:30 to 10:15: Silent journal-writing and night prayer

* 10:15 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.: Meltdown mode: Options — sleep or play video games and board games around Field Hall, or watch movies in the office. Girls sleeping/silent area in living room; Boys sleeping/silent area in choir room

* 5:30 to 6: Wake up and cleanup

* 6 to 7: Breakfast and silent journal-writing time

* 7 to 8: Morning prayer outside, prepare to head home

By Cindy VanSchalkwyk

Contributing Writer





When this story was posted in March 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:


Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

The Peace Corps Library Date: February 7 2005 No: 438 The Peace Corps Library
Peace Corps Online is proud to announce that the Peace Corps Library is now available online. With over 30,000 index entries in over 500 categories, this is the largest collection of Peace Corps related reference material in the world. From Acting to Zucchini, you can use the Main Index to find hundreds of stories about RPCVs who have your same interests, who served in your Country of Service, or who serve in your state.

Top Stories and Breaking News PCOL Magazine Peace Corps Library RPCV Directory Sign Up

Crisis Corps arrives in Thailand Date: March 20 2005 No: 530 Crisis Corps arrives in Thailand
After the Tsunami in Southeast Asia last December, Peace Corps issued an appeal for Crisis Corps Volunteers and over 200 RPCVs responded. The first team of 8 Crisis Corps volunteers departed for Thailand on March 18 to join RPCVs who are already supporting relief efforts in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and India with other agencies and NGO's. 19 Mar 2005

March's Feature Stories - only on PCOL Date: March 20 2005 No: 523 March's Feature Stories - only on PCOL
Dream Come True - Revisiting India after 34 years
The Coyne Column: Read Winning Vanity Fair PCV Essay
Tomas Belsky's paintings inspired by service in Brazil
RPCV reunites with friend after 40 years
RPCV reviews "Los Heraldos Negros" by Cesar Vallejo
Photo Essay: Taking it to the Streets


March 19, 2005: RPCV Groups in the News Date: March 20 2005 No: 525 March 19, 2005: RPCV Groups in the News
New Jersey RPCVs host exhibit in Maplewood on April 2 20 Mar
Maryland RPCVs eat crab cakes in Annapolis 17 Mar
Illinois RPCVs present "Life on the Big Red Island" 13 Mar
San Diego RPCVs host reception with Gaddi Vasquez on March 6 4 Mar
Western North Carolina's RPCVs sponsor Africa Night on March 6 3 Mar
Connecticut RPCVs held fundraiser on March 5 3 Mar
RPCVs: Post your stories or press releases here for inclusion next week.

March 19, 2005: This Week's Top Stories Date: March 20 2005 No: 526 March 19, 2005: This Week's Top Stories
RPCV points out catalytic effect of Iraq 19 Mar
PCVs set up Basketball pool in Ukraine 19 Mar
Sam Farr introduces bill to monitor ocean fisheries 18 Mar
Bridgeland does not rule out run for Congress 18 Mar
Jim Doyle promotes Institute for Discovery 18 Mar
Newspaper says Bangladesh is safe for PCVs 18 Mar
Joan Ruddiman revisits Peter Hessler's "River World" 17 Mar
Mark Schneider says Save Haiti from more violence 17 Mar
Troy Johnson joins delegation to Indonesia 17 Mar
Chris Shays says baseball not exempt from the law 17 Mar
"Hurlyburly" benefits gypsy women in Romania 15 Mar
Chris Matthews interviews Schwarzenegger 14 Mar
Fred Burke dies in NJ, trained early PCVs 13 Mar
Mike Honda introduces Student Privacy Protection Act 13 Mar
FT details Cheney-McPherson relationship 13 Mar
Tucker McCravy reports on Tsunami Reconstruction 10 Mar
Dennis Braddock retires with record of accomplishment 9 Mar

RPCVs in Congress ask colleagues to support PC Date: March 5 2005 No: 482 RPCVs in Congress ask colleagues to support PC
RPCVs Sam Farr, Chris Shays, Thomas Petri, James Walsh, and Mike Honda have asked their colleagues in Congress to add their names to a letter they have written to the House Foreign Operations Subcommittee, asking for full funding of $345 M for the Peace Corps in 2006. As a follow-on to Peace Corps week, please read the letter and call your Representative in Congress and ask him or her to add their name to the letter.

Add your info now to the RPCV Directory Date: March 13 2005 No: 489 Add your info now to the RPCV Directory
Call Harris Publishing at 800-414-4608 right away to add your name or make changes to your listing in the newest edition of the NPCA's Directory of Peace Corps Volunteers and Former Staff. Then read our story on how you can get access to the book after it is published. The deadline for inclusion is May 16 so call now.

March 1: National Day of Action Date: February 28 2005 No: 471 March 1: National Day of Action
Tuesday, March 1, is the NPCA's National Day of Action. Please call your Senators and ask them to support the President's proposed $27 Million budget increase for the Peace Corps for FY2006 and ask them to oppose the elimination of Perkins loans that benefit Peace Corps volunteers from low-income backgrounds. Follow this link for step-by-step information on how to make your calls. Then take our poll and leave feedback on how the calls went.
Make a call for the Peace Corps Date: February 19 2005 No: 453 Make a call for the Peace Corps
PCOL is a strong supporter of the NPCA's National Day of Action and encourages every RPCV to spend ten minutes on Tuesday, March 1 making a call to your Representatives and ask them to support President Bush's budget proposal of $345 Million to expand the Peace Corps. Take our Poll: Click here to take our poll. We'll send out a reminder and have more details early next week.


Read the stories and leave your comments.






Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.

Story Source: Eastbayri.com

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Togo; Fund Raising; Hunger

PCOL17916
00

.


Add a Message


This is a public posting area. Enter your username and password if you have an account. Otherwise, enter your full name as your username and leave the password blank. Your e-mail address is optional.
Username:  
Password:
E-mail: