“PLEASE, SIR, can I have some more?” is not normally the reaction of St Joseph’s College’s school children at lunch times.
But on Friday October 7, the Trent Vale school held their own fast to mark Cafod’s international day of action.
Caroline Cirino, head of religious education at the school, explained: “Normally we just hold a collection, but this year we decided as part of our Be the Change campaign that we would act in solidarity with those who have less than us and give our children just a small insight into what life is like with a hungry belly – how, indeed, many children on the planet feel every day.” Gone, then, were the meat and two veg, spotted dick and custard and the choice of salads and sandwiches. Instead, there were just three pans of soup: tomato, minestrone or vegetable with a single dry bun.
At break time the bacon butties and sumptuous snacks were also off the menu, only to be replaced by dry toast.
Matthew Field, 12, from Newcastle-under-Lyme, said: “It’s a great idea. I must admit I had a big breakfast so I didn’t feel too hungry, but it did make me consider what life is like for children in the developing world.” Ellie Scott, 13, from Alsager, said: “I don’t like soup and I didn’t even try it. But it was good to go one afternoon feeling a little hungry. It made me realise what life must be like for children in Africa and India.”