Teenager trials life below poverty line

IF I hadn’t been scrolling on Twitter that morning, I mightn’t have stumbled across the inspiring opportunity that is Live Below the Line.

For one week, Lauren Blake's diet consisted mainly of soup, tuna and rice. Picture: Contributed

IF I hadn't been scrolling on Twitter that morning, I mightn't have stumbled across the inspiring opportunity that is Live Below the Line.

LBL is an event where participants survive on $2 a day - the equivalent of the extreme poverty line - during the course of a working week.

I signed up to the challenge after reading that 1.3 billion people suffered from extreme poverty every day.

How it went:

I took to the week with initial enthusiasm - how hard could it possibly be?

Soup, bread, rice, eggs, fruit: all of the essentials were ticked off towards my $10 budget. Was this the most complicated shopping trip ever? Yes, without doubt.

The first day came and went without issue. By the second, it began to hit around lunch time, when my friends were munching away on tuckshop food. When dinner came, never had I appreciated soup so much.

Wednesday was the most difficult. By now I was grumpy, and unable to sit in class without my stomach making some sort of noise. I began to wonder how awful it must be for children, much younger than I, to have to endure this form of torture throughout their entire lifetime.

I grew more determined to accomplish the challenge. All the while, it was encouraging to receive donations and support from many friends and family.

While none of them were brave enough to do it with me, it was uplifting to bring to light an issue which is often overlooked.

I despised anyone who had a nice lunch and would moan at the mention of coffee.

When Friday came, I was starving and excited, yet feeling fulfilled.

What I learnt:

What occurred to me most during this challenge was we often take food for granted.

It's so simple to grab something from the cupboard that nobody thinks what it would be like to go without.

Secondly, appreciate water.

While the coffee withdrawals were strong, it was H2O that got me through most of the hunger pains.

I rarely go anywhere without a water bottle now and, although it sounds difficult, consuming two litres a day is best.

Last but not least, my attitude towards poverty has now become more direct and genuine.

I enjoyed raising money and awareness and contributing to the $1.92 million for schooling and education in such places as Cambodia and Papua New Guinea.

LBL not only gave me insight into the lives of many unfortunates but altered the way in which I view a lot of my own lifestyle: It's not difficult to forget that 1.3 billion people have it worse than you do.

Originally published as Teenager trials life below poverty line