World Vision’s 40 Hour Famine is now in its 33rd year here in Australia.

Last year, nearly 300,000 Australians took part, encouraging over half a million supporters to give over $5 million to help World Vision’s vital aid work around the world.

This year's famine runs from the 17th to the 19th of August, focusing on one of the world's poorest countries, Laos, where 40% of children under 5 are malnourished and almost half the population lives below the poverty line.

Schoolgirl, Catherine Mah, visited Laos as the Western Australian Youth Ambassador in January this year, seeing the work of World Vision first hand. She joined me this morning on 98.5 Sonshine FM to talk about that experience.

The main focus of our interview was to raise awareness of the 40 Hour Famine. People all over Australia will give up food for a weekend to raise funds for World Vision's aid projects in various places around the world. Instead of fasting, some will give up things like computers, furniture or mobile phones for 40 hours. Many kids will give up one meal or playing computer games for a day.

Catherine's an articulate advocate for those living in poverty around the world and I'm sure she'll continue to make a difference in her world.

You can hear our conversation by clicking here.

Source: http://www.rodneyolsen.net/2007/08/taking-poverty-seriously.html