Famine 24

Gabriel Tong Johnny Lau

What is Famine 24?

Famine 24 is ICPASS’ annual Flagship event that is held over two days where participants fast for 24 hours to raise money for our beneficiary, World Vision UK. We aim to enhance participants’ awareness of those living under the poverty line by simulating the situations and experiencing a 24hour fasting period.

Throughout the 24 hours, we have planned a series of activities and games to increase your awareness on current issues and world problems. From this event, we hope all participants will gain a new perspective on problems in the world and reflect on the best way to solve them.

First Day

The first activity, Life Monopoly, was what I found the most fascinating. In the game, we were allocated Food, Money and Happiness stats randomly. In order to gain more money, we needed to sacrifice food and happiness. Yet, the PASS committee didn’t tell us how to win, only revealing it at the end. Just like in real life, there is no straightforward target for winning our life, not even a single, tiny hint. All we can do is to find our own path through the mist of life, or throughout the whole game.

Famine24 is truly one of the most unforgettable and rewarding experiences in my life. Fasting for 24 hours for the first time is obviously challenging for me, but after all the suffering, knowing that I have finished this challenge gives me a sense of success.