The University of Otago medical student has set up a tutoring programme which draws on the talent of second- and third-year medical students with proven academic records.
"I've always been interested in fundraising ... but I was thinking there must be a better way and a more effective way.
"The traditional thing is sausage sizzling, and that's great, but in terms of what my strengths are as a medical student, I have medical knowledge and that's my specialty and it makes more sense channelling that," Miss Diong said.
Tutoring was available in first-year health sciences, high school maths and science, as well as guitar, and she hoped it would become part of the culture within the medical school.
All the proceeds from Tutoring for World Vision went to World Vision's West Africa appeal and she was pleased to have instigated a long-term fundraiser.
"If the problem is going to persist, our solution needs to persist as well.
"We have no financial capital, only human capital, so 100% of our revenue can go to World Vision."
So far, 26 tutors had signed up, with 14 having regular tutorial sessions.
Each one-on-one session cost $20 an hour and, according to World Vision, it cost just $30 to feed a child in West Africa for two months.
"It benefits the local community, it benefits the global community, but it also benefits the tutors - people get quite a bit of personal growth out of the situation."