THE first day of Australia’s fastest-growing anti-poverty campaign, Live Below the Line, will see thousands across the country digging in to ultra low budget dishes this Monday.
From May 4 – 8, 2015, thousands of Australians will eat on just $2 a day for five days – the equivalent of the extreme poverty line.
“Live Below the Line is about recognising the potential of young people,” said Oaktree CEO Chris Wallace (25).
“It’s built on the belief that everybody should have access to an education, regardless of where they’re born.”
“Live Below the Line doesn’t just raise awareness of the issue of extreme poverty, but provides participants and their friends and family with a small way of tacking action on it,” he said.
Over 30,000 Australians have taken the Live Below the Line challenge since its inception in 2010, collectively raising over $7.5 million for anti-poverty initiatives. This year the campaign is on track to raise $2 million.
Funds raised support locally run education projects in South East Asia, providing scholarships, learning materials and teacher training for hundreds of young men and women.
This year will see over 10,000 participants, including Randy Feltface, Lindsay “The Doctor” McDougall, and the members of boy-band Short Stack: “The reason we got involved is that we can’t believe young people like us live like this every day. It will definitely be a challenge, but hopefully we can raise some awareness for what we consider a huge issue. We’re all in this together.”
Live Below The Line is run by Oaktree, Australia’s largest youth-run organisation, with all members (including the CEO) under the age of 26.
Participants can still sign up for the challenge and donate to the cause at www.livebelowtheline.com.au
Live Below The Line is run by Oaktree, Australia’s largest youth-run organisation, with all members (including the CEO) under the age of 26. Funds raised by participants support locally run education projects in South East Asia, providing scholarships, learning materials and teacher training for hundreds of young men and women.
Ryan Fritz
Ryan Fritz started The Advocate in 2014 to provide not-for-profits and charities another media platform to tell their worthwhile hard news stories and opinion pieces effortlessly. In 2020, Ryan formed a team of volunteer journalists to help spread even more high-quality stories from the third sector. He also has over 10 years experience as a media and communications professional for not-for-profits and charities and currently works at Redkite, a childhood cancer charity.
