Latest news with #WorldVision
Otago Daily Times
4 hours ago
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Climate crisis message shared
A Wānaka teenager is touring New Zealand to encourage other students to help those in need after he spent 40 hours in a cage and kayaked the length of Lake Wānaka to raise funds for World Vision. Former Mount Aspiring College student James Watson travelled to the Solomon Islands with World Vision recently and saw the devastating impact climate change has had on children and families. The 18-year-old is now sharing the stories of those he met as part of his role as a Youth Ambassador for the World Vision 40-Hour Challenge. He is visiting more than 100 schools in the lower North Island to inspire students to go 40 hours offline and raise funds to support children affected by hunger in the Solomon Islands. Mr Watson was moved by the daily struggles of Solomon Islanders, who do not get enough to eat each day due to the climate crisis. He recalled meeting 9-year-old Polyne, who had big dreams of playing football and becoming a nurse but faced challenges. "Polyne has the heart and determination to make these happen, but she faces a huge roadblock — lack of food. "Even the giant taro that once could feed an entire family is no longer growing in her community. It broke my heart to see how this severe lack of food has become normal for them." Spending this valuable time in the Solomon Islands gave Mr Watson perspective and left him feeling New Zealand society could be very self-focused. "We have an inclination to be all me, me, me. We forget that there are young people in other parts of the world who can't follow their dreams because they are struggling to get enough to eat each day," he said. As a result, he encouraged peers to view the world as their one and only home. Mr Watson has a long history with the World Vision 40-Hour Challenge and has tested himself with some big challenges, namely kayaking the length of Lake Wanaka and living in a cage for 40 hours to help raise funds for the campaign. "I am excited to be carrying on with this kaupapa to make a difference for rangatahi who aren't being afforded basic human rights, like getting enough food. I hope New Zealand students will get behind the campaign this year so tamariki in Solomon Islands can follow their dreams just like we can here," he said. "By giving something up we learn to connect with others, and we learn to be grateful for all the privileges we have in life." Mr Watson's challenge this year will include going offline for 40 hours while he films 40 conversations about hope. "In Solomon Islands we saw how much the people valued connecting with each other face-to-face and back here I saw how we have lost some of that ... I will be asking 40 people to share their stories of hope. I want to show that everyone has a story to tell, and that's what makes us human. Just like Polyne has a story and hope." The World Vision 40-Hour Challenge runs from June 13-15, with sign-ups and donations via the website. — APL
Scoop
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
More Than 60 Landmarks In 22 Locations Across Aotearoa To Light Up Orange For World Vision 40 Hour Challenge
Press Release – World Vision This is the fifth year that a multitude of New Zealands most recognisable monuments will shine orange to raise awareness for the fundraising campaign, which helps to make a life-changing difference to children around the world. An orange glow will light up across Aotearoa on the evening of 13 June, as 63 iconic Kiwi landmarks show their support for the World Vision 40 Hour Challenge, the nation's largest youth fundraising event. This is the fifth year that a multitude of New Zealand's most recognisable monuments will shine orange to raise awareness for the fundraising campaign, which helps to make a life-changing difference to children around the world. This year's World Vision 40 Hour Challenge is encouraging rangatahi to give up technology and go 'offline for 40 Hours' to unplug, disconnect, and get together with their friends and whānau while completing a challenge to raise funds for children who struggle to get enough to eat each day due to climate change in Solomon Islands. World Vision Associate National Director, TJ Grant, says young people today live very 'online' lives and that means going offline for 40 hours is the ultimate challenge. He says World Vision New Zealand surveyed participants who did the World Vision 40 Hour Challenge last year and half of the survey participants said a 'no tech' challenge would be the most difficult challenge for them. Some of the key monuments lighting up in Auckland during the World Vision 40 Hour Challenge Weekend (13-15 June) include Eden Park, Spark Arena, Vero Centre, Sylvia Park, and Mānawa Bay Premium Outlet Centre. Other key monuments lighting up across Aotearoa, include Christchurch Airport, Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, The Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington, The Botanical Gardens in Christchurch, the Saxton Oval Pavilion in Nelson, and Queens Park in Invercargill. Unique and iconic landmarks lighting up orange this year include the tunnel at Wellington Cable Cars, the Big Carrot in Ohakune, the Big Fruit in Cromwell, the KZ1 boat at Auckland's Maritime Museum, and the corrugated iron Sheepdog in Tirau. Grant says he's overwhelmed at the number of landmarks supporting this year's World Vision 40 Hour Challenge. 'The challenge young Kiwis are taking on during the campaign weekend will help to raise funds that will feed families in Solomon Islands who are on the frontlines of climate change. Funds will give families tools and seeds to farm climate-smart crops, plant mangroves to protect their land from rising sea levels and restore fish populations and provide sustainable food sources for future generations to ensure children can grow up healthy and strong in a changing climate.' Owner of Vero Centre, Kiwi Property, says, 'We are proud to support World Vision's 40 Hour Challenge by illuminating the iconic Vero Centre halo in orange this June, helping to raise awareness for this important cause.' The World Vision 40 Hour Challenge takes place from June 13 – June 15. Sign up to take part in this year's World Vision 40 Hour Challenge, or donate, at: The full list of landmarks lighting up orange on 13-15 June includes: Arrowtown: Lakes District Museum & Gallery Ashburton: Clocktower Auckland: Eden Park, Spark Arena, Maritime Museum KZ1 boat, PWC Tower, Vero Centre, The Aotea Centre, Sylvia Park, Dominion Road, St. Peters Church (Onehunga), and Mānawa Bay Premium Outlet Centre Christchurch: Christchurch Airport, The Botanical Gardens, The Bridge of Remembrance, New Brighton Pier, Captain Scott Plaza, The Bowker Fountain (Victoria Square), Vaka a Hina, Memorial Gateway Bridge, Christchurch Town Hall Ferrier Fountain, Fanfare Sculpture, Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū Cromwell: Big Fruit Dunedin: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin Airport, Golden Centre Mall (digital screens), Tuhura Otago Museum, Wall Street Mall, Otago Boys High School Gisborne: Gisborne Clock Tower Invercargill: Queens Park (Feldwich Gates, Band Rotunda, and Gala Street Fountain) Napier: The Gold of the Kowhai Sculpture and Tom Parker Fountain Nelson: Saxton Oval Pavilion New Plymouth: New Plymouth Clock Tower Oamaru: Oamaru Opera House Ohakune: Big Carrot Palmerston North: Hopwood Clock Tower Tauranga: Wharf Street Lights, Beacon Wharf, Masonic Park, Waterfront- North and playground, Tunks Reserve Te Aroha: Clock Tower Tirau: The Big Sheep Dog Waitaki: Craig Fountain Waitoma: Tree of Light Wellington: Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington Cable Car tunnel, Wellington Airport, Kelburn Park Fountain, Hikitia, Nga Kina sculpture and Promenades, Queens Wharf sails shades
Scoop
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
More Than 60 Landmarks In 22 Locations Across Aotearoa To Light Up Orange For World Vision 40 Hour Challenge
Press Release – World Vision An orange glow will light up across Aotearoa on the evening of 13 June, as 63 iconic Kiwi landmarks show their support for the World Vision 40 Hour Challenge, the nation's largest youth fundraising event. This is the fifth year that a multitude of New Zealand's most recognisable monuments will shine orange to raise awareness for the fundraising campaign, which helps to make a life-changing difference to children around the world. This year's World Vision 40 Hour Challenge is encouraging rangatahi to give up technology and go 'offline for 40 Hours' to unplug, disconnect, and get together with their friends and whānau while completing a challenge to raise funds for children who struggle to get enough to eat each day due to climate change in Solomon Islands. World Vision Associate National Director, TJ Grant, says young people today live very 'online' lives and that means going offline for 40 hours is the ultimate challenge. He says World Vision New Zealand surveyed participants who did the World Vision 40 Hour Challenge last year and half of the survey participants said a 'no tech' challenge would be the most difficult challenge for them. Some of the key monuments lighting up in Auckland during the World Vision 40 Hour Challenge Weekend (13-15 June) include Eden Park, Spark Arena, Vero Centre, Sylvia Park, and Mānawa Bay Premium Outlet Centre. Other key monuments lighting up across Aotearoa, include Christchurch Airport, Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, The Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington, The Botanical Gardens in Christchurch, the Saxton Oval Pavilion in Nelson, and Queens Park in Invercargill. Unique and iconic landmarks lighting up orange this year include the tunnel at Wellington Cable Cars, the Big Carrot in Ohakune, the Big Fruit in Cromwell, the KZ1 boat at Auckland's Maritime Museum, and the corrugated iron Sheepdog in Tirau. Grant says he's overwhelmed at the number of landmarks supporting this year's World Vision 40 Hour Challenge. 'The challenge young Kiwis are taking on during the campaign weekend will help to raise funds that will feed families in Solomon Islands who are on the frontlines of climate change. Funds will give families tools and seeds to farm climate-smart crops, plant mangroves to protect their land from rising sea levels and restore fish populations and provide sustainable food sources for future generations to ensure children can grow up healthy and strong in a changing climate.' Owner of Vero Centre, Kiwi Property, says, 'We are proud to support World Vision's 40 Hour Challenge by illuminating the iconic Vero Centre halo in orange this June, helping to raise awareness for this important cause.' The World Vision 40 Hour Challenge takes place from June 13 – June 15. Sign up to take part in this year's World Vision 40 Hour Challenge, or donate, at: The full list of landmarks lighting up orange on 13-15 June includes: Arrowtown: Lakes District Museum & Gallery Ashburton: Clocktower Auckland: Eden Park, Spark Arena, Maritime Museum KZ1 boat, PWC Tower, Vero Centre, The Aotea Centre, Sylvia Park, Dominion Road, St. Peters Church (Onehunga), and Mānawa Bay Premium Outlet Centre Christchurch: Christchurch Airport, The Botanical Gardens, The Bridge of Remembrance, New Brighton Pier, Captain Scott Plaza, The Bowker Fountain (Victoria Square), Vaka a Hina, Memorial Gateway Bridge, Christchurch Town Hall Ferrier Fountain, Fanfare Sculpture, Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū Cromwell: Big Fruit Dunedin: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin Airport, Golden Centre Mall (digital screens), Tuhura Otago Museum, Wall Street Mall, Otago Boys High School Gisborne: Gisborne Clock Tower Invercargill: Queens Park (Feldwich Gates, Band Rotunda, and Gala Street Fountain) Napier: The Gold of the Kowhai Sculpture and Tom Parker Fountain Nelson: Saxton Oval Pavilion New Plymouth: New Plymouth Clock Tower Oamaru: Oamaru Opera House Ohakune: Big Carrot Palmerston North: Hopwood Clock Tower Tauranga: Wharf Street Lights, Beacon Wharf, Masonic Park, Waterfront- North and playground, Tunks Reserve Te Aroha: Clock Tower Tirau: The Big Sheep Dog Waitaki: Craig Fountain Waitoma: Tree of Light Wellington: Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington Cable Car tunnel, Wellington Airport, Kelburn Park Fountain, Hikitia, Nga Kina sculpture and Promenades, Queens Wharf sails shades
Scoop
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
More Than 60 Landmarks In 22 Locations Across Aotearoa To Light Up Orange For World Vision 40 Hour Challenge
An orange glow will light up across Aotearoa on the evening of 13 June, as 63 iconic Kiwi landmarks show their support for the World Vision 40 Hour Challenge, the nation's largest youth fundraising event. This is the fifth year that a multitude of New Zealand's most recognisable monuments will shine orange to raise awareness for the fundraising campaign, which helps to make a life-changing difference to children around the world. This year's World Vision 40 Hour Challenge is encouraging rangatahi to give up technology and go 'offline for 40 Hours' to unplug, disconnect, and get together with their friends and whānau while completing a challenge to raise funds for children who struggle to get enough to eat each day due to climate change in Solomon Islands. World Vision Associate National Director, TJ Grant, says young people today live very 'online' lives and that means going offline for 40 hours is the ultimate challenge. He says World Vision New Zealand surveyed participants who did the World Vision 40 Hour Challenge last year and half of the survey participants said a 'no tech' challenge would be the most difficult challenge for them. Some of the key monuments lighting up in Auckland during the World Vision 40 Hour Challenge Weekend (13-15 June) include Eden Park, Spark Arena, Vero Centre, Sylvia Park, and Mānawa Bay Premium Outlet Centre. Other key monuments lighting up across Aotearoa, include Christchurch Airport, Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, The Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington, The Botanical Gardens in Christchurch, the Saxton Oval Pavilion in Nelson, and Queens Park in Invercargill. Unique and iconic landmarks lighting up orange this year include the tunnel at Wellington Cable Cars, the Big Carrot in Ohakune, the Big Fruit in Cromwell, the KZ1 boat at Auckland's Maritime Museum, and the corrugated iron Sheepdog in Tirau. Grant says he's overwhelmed at the number of landmarks supporting this year's World Vision 40 Hour Challenge. 'The challenge young Kiwis are taking on during the campaign weekend will help to raise funds that will feed families in Solomon Islands who are on the frontlines of climate change. Funds will give families tools and seeds to farm climate-smart crops, plant mangroves to protect their land from rising sea levels and restore fish populations and provide sustainable food sources for future generations to ensure children can grow up healthy and strong in a changing climate.' Owner of Vero Centre, Kiwi Property, says, 'We are proud to support World Vision's 40 Hour Challenge by illuminating the iconic Vero Centre halo in orange this June, helping to raise awareness for this important cause.' The World Vision 40 Hour Challenge takes place from June 13 – June 15. Sign up to take part in this year's World Vision 40 Hour Challenge, or donate, at: The full list of landmarks lighting up orange on 13-15 June includes: Arrowtown: Lakes District Museum & Gallery Ashburton: Clocktower Auckland: Eden Park, Spark Arena, Maritime Museum KZ1 boat, PWC Tower, Vero Centre, The Aotea Centre, Sylvia Park, Dominion Road, St. Peters Church (Onehunga), and Mānawa Bay Premium Outlet Centre Christchurch: Christchurch Airport, The Botanical Gardens, The Bridge of Remembrance, New Brighton Pier, Captain Scott Plaza, The Bowker Fountain (Victoria Square), Vaka a Hina, Memorial Gateway Bridge, Christchurch Town Hall Ferrier Fountain, Fanfare Sculpture, Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū Cromwell: Big Fruit Dunedin: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin Airport, Golden Centre Mall (digital screens), Tuhura Otago Museum, Wall Street Mall, Otago Boys High School Gisborne: Gisborne Clock Tower Invercargill: Queens Park (Feldwich Gates, Band Rotunda, and Gala Street Fountain) Napier: The Gold of the Kowhai Sculpture and Tom Parker Fountain Nelson: Saxton Oval Pavilion New Plymouth: New Plymouth Clock Tower Oamaru: Oamaru Opera House Ohakune: Big Carrot Palmerston North: Hopwood Clock Tower Tauranga: Wharf Street Lights, Beacon Wharf, Masonic Park, Waterfront- North and playground, Tunks Reserve Te Aroha: Clock Tower Tirau: The Big Sheep Dog Waitaki: Craig Fountain Waitoma: Tree of Light Wellington: Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington Cable Car tunnel, Wellington Airport, Kelburn Park Fountain, Hikitia, Nga Kina sculpture and Promenades, Queens Wharf sails shades
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Grassroots relief hub brings hope to north St. Louis tornado survivors
ST. LOUIS – From devastation to determination: What started as a quiet corner in north St. Louis has quickly become a symbol of resilience. A grassroots relief effort is rallying neighbors, churches, and even motorcycle clubs in a powerful show of unity. For those involved, recovery isn't just a goal. It's a daily mission. One parking lot on Euclid Avenue may look empty now, but every day from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., it transforms into a lifeline for north St. Louis tornado survivors. Since just hours after the storm hit, hot meals, clothing, showers, and essential supplies have been offered right here, just steps away from the severely damaged Roosevelt Town Apartments. City Hope St. Louis's pastor Mikey Robinson and Committeewoman Yolonda Yancie organized this grassroots relief hub within five hours of the tornado hitting. They chose this site because of how close it is to the impacted residents, many of whom are still without power. 'Over here, we've had clothes for the children. We've had clothes for adults. Undergarments for our seniors. A lot of the seniors in the building without power didn't have those necessities, personal necessities. We have men's items, socks and laundry detergent—things we take everyday for granted,' said Yanice. World Vision donated towels, pillows, and humidifiers. Local caterers have pitched in with hot meals. And last Sunday, they even hosted a full community dinner. At least 700 meals are served daily here. 'I get the resources. I've been making phone calls, driving the van to pick up ice from Arctic ice, and delivering. Whatever I can do,' said Marcia McDuffie with Hope Nation International Church. McDuffie is one of many volunteers helping power this effort, including a motorcycle group who didn't just ride in but rolled up with hot meals and solar lamps. 'They have given away clothes. They cooked hot meals. They didn't give away just hot dogs, hamburgers, or sandwiches. They had mashed potatoes and corn. They gave away hygiene items, batteries, and solar lamps,' said McDuffie. 'I've seen so many people with just with nothing, and I was like, we got to do something. I mean, you know, for the people. So far, it's been so good,' said Ty Frazier, National Vice President of Dem Boyz Motorcycle Club. From faith-based groups to the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, dozens have stepped up to make this possible. McDuffie says if you or someone you know needs help, call her directly at 314-662-7129. They plan to remain on site every day until further notice. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
