Featured image: Our 40-Hour Challenge Leaders and 2023 WGHS alumna Dinithi Liyanage, who is the 2024 World Vision Advocacy Ambassador.

From social action workshops to compelling speeches by inspirational leaders, the World Vision Youth Conference held on Tuesday, May in the Trusts Arena in Henderson was truly an incredible opportunity. The 40-Hour Challenge leaders gained insightful information and ideas for this year’s 40-hour Challenge on 21-23 June. 

This year, the 40-Hour Challenge is focused on Timor-Leste. Unfortunately, many lives in Timor-Leste have been affected by cyclones, droughts, and floods, despite only contributing 0.003% of global emissions. During the workshops, we learned about the background of the climate crisis, as well as hearing from World Vision Youth Ambassadors who had travelled to Timor-Leste to witness the impact of climate change. We also learned about the story of Pasquela, a young woman who was forced to drop out of university after a cyclone destroyed her family’s rice crop farm, which had been their main source of income. This made us more determined to raise as much money as possible to support people like her who don’t have access to education because of climate change. 

This one-day conference wasn’t just about planning for the 40-Hour Challenge; it was a gathering of students from all over the upper North Island (as far as Whangarei and Tauranga) who are passionate about making a difference in the world.

Written by Aman Khalid 12HBH and Tanushri Dev 12PTJ