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Fasting students learn about African aid

African AIDS Angels organization leads workshop at Oak Bay High
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Oak Bay High students Marissa Louie

Marissa Louie, Xin Yin Wang and Fiona Headen have all gone more than a day without solid food.

For friend Sydney Chan, the Oak Bay High School 28-hour fast is a new experience.

“I’ve never done it before, it’s a kind of a last chance to do it,” Sydney said. “I’ve heard great things about how much fun it is.”

The foursome, set to graduate in June, will be among the many classmates who fast for the implied 28 hours starting Nov. 24.

“We’re just trying to get the awareness out there,” said Marissa.

They’re raising awareness through African AIDS Angels, an organization that raises funds to support African families affected by HIV/AIDS.

Volunteers create small colourful angels that are exchanged for donations on Vancouver Island and beyond. African AIDS Angels supports four projects in three countries of southern Africa.

“We meet with the charity, African AIDS Angels (Victoria) and we get to make little angels with them,” said Marissa. “A lot of time you don’t get to see that, you just hand money off. This way you have hands-on experience.”

For the last decade, African AIDS Angels volunteers have given presentations and hosted angel-making workshops in schools sharing a slideshow, information and angel-making workshops that allow students to have fun while learning and contributing to a humanitarian cause.

Students also spend this week gathering personal hygiene products and socks for the cause.

Learn more about the charity at aidsangelsvictoria.ca.

Donations of socks and personal hygiene items can be dropped off at the school, 2121 Cadboro Bay Rd. or email teacher Roxanne Taggart at rtaggart@sd61.bc.ca for more information.