INDEPENDENCE, MISSOURI USA, December 20, 2002 - Students of Shawnee
Mission East High School in Shawnee Mission, Kansas fasted recently to raise
funds to support people in the poor island nation of the Dominican Republic.
Each year teacher Paul DeBarthe addresses the topic of life in developing
countries as a part of his class curriculum. He focuses on the realities of
what it is like to live in a place where conditions are often less than
favorable for humans to thrive. “This is a great opportunity to help young
people better understand how so many in the world struggle each day to simply
survive,” said DeBarthe. “I’ve received good support from a local
international human development organization, Outreach International, that
provides information, statistics and first-hand reports from people of many
cultures and conditions.” Students utilize their fasting commitment to
gather financial pledges from family members, friends, and fellow students.
The combined funds go to support a partnership program through Outreach
International.
Outreach International works within communities throughout the world
helping people learn to help themselves. “Staff members of Outreach
International are pretty quick to tell students that the issues of food and
chronic hunger are often at the top of the list of issues for most third-world
residents,” said DeBarthe.
“Fasting for my class is an option that many students elect to do during
this section of study.” said DeBarthe. “The kids maintain a journal and
provide verbal reports each day to their classmates while they fast. Most of
the students begin to feel the agonizing effects of hunger after only twenty-
four hours. They talk of how tired they are and how they lack energy.”
“All I wanted to do was sleep,” commented one student. “But sleeping
was good because it kept my mind off food. I think that must be why extremely
poor people sometimes seem to lack ambition.”
A junior in DeBarthe’s class, who fasted for two days, said, “Now I
think about all the times I eat simply out of boredom. I compare that to
people who often don’t know where their next meal will come from. It makes
me more appreciative of what I have and determined to be more responsible and
do what I can to help those who are hungry in our world.”
DeBarthe reported that one particular student elected to fast this year for
a record length of time. “We closely monitored her condition as she provided
the other students with a full report each morning in class,” said DeBarthe.
“There were times I thought I would go insane,” said senior Angela Smith,
who fasted for a full five days on only water. “Just knowing food was
available and that others around me weren’t suffering like me was almost
unbearable.” Smith said that when she finally did eat, it was difficult to
control her emotions. “As I sat down to enjoy my first meal, it was
difficult not to cry,” reflected Smith. “I couldn’t help but think about
all the children in the world who still, after five days, often don’t have
anything to eat. I know how horrible it is to go without food now, so I’ve
decided to do what I can to make a difference for people who are poor and
hungry in the world.” Smith said she would continue to support the work of
Outreach International and other organizations like it that address the needs
of the world’s less fortunate.
DeBarthe, along with his wife Rina, who is originally from Tahiti, sponsor
a Tahitian-style luau to conclude the fasting event over a weekend. “It’s
a big celebration,” said DeBarthe. “We roast a whole hog in the ground
,and friends and family provide a great number of delicious side dishes. It’s
always great to see the students who fasted enjoy their first solid food
following their challenge.”
DeBarthe reported that students and fellow supporters raised $2,000 this
year to support Outreach International’s field program in the Dominican
Republic, where nearly one-third of the population lives well below the
poverty line. “Students were thrilled with their accomplishments,” said
DeBarthe, “and many have said they’re already looking forward to doing it
again next year.”
Adapted and used with permission from Outreach International,
2003.
