30-Hour Famine 2025: Standing Together to End Hunger

30-Hour Famine 2025: Standing Together to End Hunger

30 Hours of Sacrifice, A Lifetime of Change

On 24 August 2025, thousands across Malaysia came together at ZEPP Kuala Lumpur for the 30-Hour Famine Countdown, the powerful finale of the annual campaign, uniting to stand in solidarity with vulnerable communities.

The 30-Hour Famine is a global movement by World Vision to end hunger and poverty. It’s where people like you stand up, speak out, and take action. Through interactive activities, participants experience a small part of the struggles faced by millions of children, while raising funds and awareness to give them what they need.

Thank you to everyone who joined us. This article is both a recap of what we achieved together, and a reminder that our mission continues.

What Is the 30-Hour Famine and Who Does It Help?

The 30-Hour Famine is not a one-off event, but an annual movement of empathy, solidarity, and action. By fasting for 30 hours, participants step into the shoes of children who experience hunger daily, and through fundraising, they bring hope and real change.

In 2025, funds raised will support World Vision’s community development work in Malaysia, Cambodia, Mongolia, and Nepal, as well as through the United Nations World Food Programme. The beneficiaries are children and families who face hunger, malnutrition, and poverty, with the heart of the movement being to walk alongside them, equipping and empowering them for long-term transformation.

What Impact Did the 2025 30-Hour Famine Create?

3,000 participants fasted in solidarity with those living in poverty.
RM453,381 raised to support global and local initiatives.

Global Impact: Fighting Hunger in Cambodia, Mongolia, Nepal and Beyond

Funds raised will support World Vision’s work to improve health & nutrition and livelihoods for children and families. This includes:

Conducting behaviour change sessions with parents, caregivers, and grandmothers (respected figures within families who can positively influence family practices) to promote early childhood development, growth monitoring, and improved health communications
Developing and distributing information, education, and communication materials, as well as training manuals on health and nutrition practices for parenting group facilitators and key community members
Equipping communities to conserve soil, water, and forest resources, while promoting climate-smart livelihoods through sustainable practices and collaboration with stakeholders
Strengthening disaster resilience and management, and implementing disaster risk reduction policies to reduce vulnerabilities and build a safer, healthier environment

In 2025, funds will also support the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) — where World Vision is their largest NGO partner — in its global efforts to end hunger. Together, we go beyond food assistance by:

Treating and preventing malnutrition among mothers and young children
Providing life-saving aid to families affected by conflict, crises, and climate-related disasters
Helping farmers build climate-resilient, market-accessible communities and recover their livelihoods after disasters.

Local Impact: Tackling Poverty and Child Malnutrition in Malaysia

In Malaysia, funds will go to the Malaysia Assistance Fund, which supports:

Health and nutrition, education, livelihoods, and child protection projects in Mukim Tulid and Tatalaan, Sabah.
One Goal Malaysia’s Eat Right to Play Right programme, which uses sports (badminton) to tackle child malnutrition among urban poor communities in the Klang Valley.

Did you know? In Malaysia, 21.8% of children under five are stunted, 9.7% are wasted, and 14.8% of children aged five to 17 are obese. These figures show why programmes like Eat Right to Play Right are so vital.

What Did Participants Experience During the 30-Hour Famine?

The 30-Hour Famine isn’t just about skipping meals; it’s an experience that challenges hearts and inspires action.

For Cherylyn and Rou Xi from Sekolah Sri Tenby, this year’s 30-Hour Famine was more than just an endurance challenge. It was also their first time serving as part of the organising committee. While both have joined the campaign for three years, stepping up to host alongside their friends and teachers gave them new perspectives.

“I got to know how people in poverty face challenges in their lives…and I got to appreciate the things I have currently.” – Cherylyn (left)

“I didn’t think that I would be able to go through 30 hours…but it didn’t really hit me, the hunger.” – Rou Xi (right)

Coordinating a DIY Camp for over a hundred participants was no easy task, but they gained valuable lessons in leadership, teamwork, and perseverance. Although the hunger and stress were real, they were proud to have “tahan-ed” the full 30 hours, calling it a meaningful achievement.

For Mee Lian, a teacher and Camp Leader of SST Famine 30 DIY Camp, the 30-Hour Famine was an opportunity to showcase education in action. She described the experience as a way to awaken the “seeds of kindness” in herself and her students, emphasizing that every challenge faced during the event was outweighed by the impact on the participants and the community.

“Every step we take helps make our students, our school, our community, our country, and our world more beautiful.

“When you fundraise, you become a bridge – a bridge that connects to a less fortunate child somewhere in the world.” – Mee Lian

The highlight for her was the annual 30-Hour Famine Countdown to mark the campaign’s finale — a symbolic moment of accomplishment that sparked gratitude and a renewed commitment to foster compassion and leadership among her students.

By the end of this year’s campaign, participants were inspired, proud, and motivated. Many expressed a genuine desire to return and to encourage their friends and family to join — showing that the event left a lasting impression on their hearts, not just a memory of enduring hunger.

What’s Next After the 30-Hour Famine?

This year’s 30-Hour Famine may be over, but the mission doesn’t stop here — because hunger doesn’t end after 30 hours.

Here’s how you can continue making a difference:

Sponsor a child: Transform a child’s future through education, healthcare, nutrition and more!
Volunteer or donate monthly: Be part of ongoing projects in Malaysia and beyond.
Stay connected: Follow World Vision Malaysia on social media for updates.
Join us in 2026: Don’t miss out on next year’s 30-Hour Famine!

Hunger Doesn’t End After 30 Hours

Sponsor a child today and keep the spirit of 30-Hour Famine alive, every single day.

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