Below the line – a worthwhile cause
Well this is something a little different for my usual blog fair but I thought it might interest some and well.. what is this blog for if not cataloging my adventures. This week I will be participating in Below the line.
It is an awareness campaign more than anything else but also raises funds for those living in extreme poverty in Papua New Guinea and Cambodia. The links my current employer has to Cambodia and the service projects the school runs there has been very enlightening to me over the years and it really is amazing how much difference a seemingly small amount of money can make.
I don’t usually like to ask or send out what I consider spam but I did send out a few emails this week to raise some funds but mostly to draw attention to this program.
The idea is that participants live on $2 a day (1 pound in the UK) for food. It is a big ask for individuals but the more people you get working together the better your diet can be. It lasts only for 5 days. The way the program encourages you to band together with friends and form a team in order to be able to afford more interesting food stuffs etc is interesting. The way it highlights the importance of community is a great additional educational point in my eyes as it points out how important villages and communities are essential to the support or those living in extreme poverty.
This won’t be the first time in my life I have lived on this kind of budget, in fact I have lived on less for much longer. It is a good reminder to me just how good I have it now compared to other times in my life. I am lucky and so very very thankful for all the opportunities my life affords me and the luxury I take for granted more often than I should. This is my way to give back a little … everyone deserves the chance to thrive. So my main idea behind this is to put the usual household food budget in as a donation it is a significant amount of money when I think about it.. the food budget here is not exactly what I would refer to as tight.
So for the next 5 days this household including Mr B will be living below the line… $20 two people 5 days, lets see how we manage.
My profile page is here if you want to follow how much I raise… or even contribute 😛
I would of laid money down on there being some rice in there.
I hope the week goes well! It’s good to be reminded just how well we have it sometimes… and contribute to an exceptional cause while you’re at it.
Nic I was thinking rice too but the pasta is cheaper. The bread was an extravagance, given more time in my day to day life neither pre-made pasta or bread would appear. It would have been much more economical to get flour and make the bulk standard carbs that way. Dried lentils would of also made a good base for soups and dahl.
Adam I is sleepy and mistook you for Nic… you’re still reading my blog *faint* hello!!!!!
I would’ve said what Adam said, so your comment to him/me works both ways 🙂
Is that a pack of cheese slices resting on the onion?
Good luck with this. I know we used to eat cheaply like this in the past, but I’m really glad we don’t have to anymore.
Of course I still read your blog. I just lurk sometimes. 😛
I was thinking that the pasta probably was a cheaper option. Not that I’d be complaining. I do love me some pasta. I can understand going the pre-made route. There’s just not enough time in the day.
Lentils! Haven’t had a good lentil soup in a while. I think you’ve inspired an up and coming use of my slow cooker.