Canadian teens join the fight against poverty and world hunger

Mississauga, ON - Everyday more than 30,000 children die from hunger and preventable diseases. To date, more than 14 million children have become orphans because of HIV/AIDS. On the weekend of April 1 and 2, teens from across the country will take up the battle against poverty, hunger and injustice by doing World Vision's 30 Hour Famine.

Across Canada, teens will go without solid food for 30 hours, drinking only water and juice. Their goals are to learn about poverty and world hunger, and to raise funds to help children and youth who are living with the consequences of malnutrition and disease. Hunger bites - Canadian teens are biting back.

This year, youth across Canada aim to raise more than $5 million to support programs targeted at:

• Reducing child malnutrition in Ghana, Mozambique, Senegal, Tanzania, Cambodia, Guatemala, and Sri Lanka
• Caring for children orphaned by HIV/AIDS and providing HIV/AIDS education to youth
• Bringing fresh, clean water to communities in the Philippines, Senegal and Niger
• Providing relief and rehabilitation to families and communities devastated by the recent tsunami in Southeast Asia

The 30 Hour Famine began 34 years ago in Canada and today more than 1.5 million teens around the world participate. Anyone interested in learning more about World Vision's 30 Hour Famine can call 1-888-8FAMINE or visit www.famine.ca and start biting back.

World Vision Canada is an international Christian humanitarian relief and development organization working in more than 90 countries assisting over 80 million people each year.