By Brendan Rees
Students of Casey Grammar spent a night without their usual comforts as part of their effort to raise money for World Vision.
Twenty-five students and staff took part in the 40 Hour Famine’s new Backpack Challenge which started at 8pm on Friday 17 August to help raise funds for displaced children impacted by the refugee crisis.
They camped overnight on the school oval with the basic necessities and participated in a range of activities to experience what it would be like for refugees who flee their homes with very little.
This included team building activities including crossing through fences and rivers and some students cared for a baby doll.
The students were allowed packed food, sleeping bags and tents.
In the evening, students also cooked Rocky Road, lemon slice and choc-coconut slice for the Cranbourne Food Truck.
The school’s chaplain Monique Riviere-Pendle said the students embraced the challenges and were appreciative of the small things in life.
“The overwhelming sense from all involved is how easy it is to forget how fortunate we are and how challenging life can be without the basics,” she said.
“Whilst we were going to sleep out in tents, a few collapsed and the wild weather threatened, so halfway through the night most moved inside, relieved that they had a second option.
“They also worked with Judy who volunteers for Days for Girls and assisted with making sanitary items for girls in developing countries,” she said.
The school was currently sitting third in the state for the most money raised with $8100.
Students left school at 9am on Saturday 18 August and continued the challenge until 8am on Sunday 19 August living out of their backpacks.
One student said: “It must be so intensely difficult to be a refuge and it must take so much strength and perseverance.”
