Since we launched Live Below the Line many of our friends and acquaintances have been asking me a common question:
“the AU$2 measure has to cover more than food, doesn't it?”
These friends are totally on the mark (and to be honest, this is the reaction I want from people engaging with Live Below the Line).
Upon first traveling to countries enveloped by Extreme Poverty I had such a simplified view of extreme poverty. I thought that the issue was primarily around access to work and access to food. How wrong I was.
Having access to economic opportunities and nutritious and economical food is exceedingly important. However, extreme poverty is so much more complex than just these two aspects.
We are led to believe that our lives are complex. But, consider if you lived in extreme poverty - life is far from simple:
- You are more likely to have an unstable income source - meaning that your “US$1.25” comes in erratically.
- You often have to take loans from friends and extended family to buy the necessities of life - like food.
- Your have to travel 5km’s to get access to water, often this water will cause diarrhea and sickness
- You make great personal sacrifices so your family can access health care - simple things like going without a meal so your children can access basic, but life-saving, medicine.
- Your desperation may mean that you would pull your daughter out of school to work within a factory to cover family costs.
Whilst simple, It is the cumulation of all of these basic aspects of life (income, access to food, access to clean water, health care, education) that make life in Extreme Poverty so innately complex.
Live Below the Line allows you to experience just one of the simple challenges (limited access to food) - however, it provides a small window into the challenges and complexity of Extreme Poverty.
*You can sign up to Live Below the Line, and raise money for a Poverty Education Program in Australian schools at www.livebelowtheline.com/globalpovertyproject
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