A Social Science grad with a never-ending appetite and lust for Sydney life. Community and Social Media Manager @ProjectFutures www.projectfutures.com
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Are you a noodle nut?
If you have ever wondered about some of the challenges the world's poorest face trying to put food food on the table, the Live Below the Line initiative can help shed some light. Live Below the Line is an annual poverty reduction campaign established by The Oaktree Foundation that aims to raise awareness and funds for global poverty eradication. Whilst doing so it also gives people the opportunity to experience some of these challenges by subsisting on $2 a day for five days during May.
Live Below the Line gives back to education in a bid to end extreme poverty
Last year Live Below the Line raised an incredible $1.9 million; this year they're aiming even higher and you have the opportunity to play a big part in achieving this goal. The money raised from this year's Live Below the Line will go towards supporting education initiatives across Papua New Guinea and Cambodia, something we often take for granted in Australia. And if you needed a little more of a push, there are also some prizes for outstanding fundraisers. So start early, go hard and you may be lucky enough to score yourself a Live Below the Line pack.
What does it feel like to feed yourself for $2 a day?
If you are wondering why the challenge is set a $2 a day, here's the short story. The World Bank has set the global extreme poverty line at US$1.25 since 2005. Now, taking into account what Australian's can buy for the equivalent of US$1.25 and inflation rates, in today's money that equates to AU$2. And so there you have it. Half the price of a cup of coffee but enough to keep your body fueled for five days. Sounds interesting, right?
By this stage you may be wondering just how it is possible to feed yourself each day for less than it costs to purchase a cup of coffee. Well, first of all, you'll have to do away with those cups of coffee, they just won't fit into your budget. $2 is a very tight budget, I know. But there are a couple of simple rules to help you get a handle on things:
[ADVERT]1. The total price of the food purchased for the challenge has to be included in your budget. This means if you buy a bag of pasta, the total price of that bag has to be factored into your budget even if you only eat a part of it.
2. Every little bit counts. This means that anything you already have laying around, including condiments and foodstuffs given to you by generous donors, must also be factored into your tiny budget.
But don't get bogged down in thinking about all the things you can't have; Live Below the Line can also be a fantastic chance for you to develop your Masterchef skills and become a real innovator in the kitchen. Experiment. By the end of it you may realise you can go without some of those luxuries we often take for granted. If you are finding yourself a little devoid of inspiration, however, the kind team at Live Below the Line will be posting some recipe ideas to the website soon to give your inspiration a bit of a kick. They also have a wealth of tips and tricks to help you on your way.
But it's not all about hunger pains and self-deprivation. It's also meant to be fun, enlightening, and a great opportunity for you and your friends to do something big and make a significant difference in global eradication of extreme poverty.
So what kind of Live Below the Line participant will you be? Sign up now and find out.
