Getting ready...

Join Opportunity International (http://www.opportunity.org/) in "a walk-in-their-shoes" experience!

We may have read or heard about poverty; we may have experienced it in some way; we may have contributed financially and prayerfully to support the poor. Can we now challenge ourselves to walk in the shoes of the poor we serve and support?

WHY? According to the World Bank, roughly 2.6 billion people live on less than $2 a day. For those who endure this poverty the impact is truly unfathomable. This limited income infiltrates every aspect of life; from the physical hardships to the psychological strain. At Opportunity International we would like to demonstrate our concern for global poverty by eating on $2 a day for a week. We ask you to share in our challenge, and see if you can entice 5 others to join us and you during this week.

Throughout the challenge, it is our hope that those participating will begin to understand the emotional and physical hardships that come from hunger and poverty, and will better understand the lives of the clients Opportunity works so hard to serve.

OUR PART: Eating for one week on just $2 per day (or 7 days on $14) and committing to donate the difference you would have spent on food to Opportunity's Global Microfinance Initiatives. For instance, if I am in a family of 5 and we spend roughly $300 a week on groceries my part would be about $60, so I'd donate at least $46 to Opportunity ($60 - $14 = $46). Then, add postings to this blog sharing your experience.

TRUE POVERTY: Living on $2 a day should in no way belittle or undermine the true nature of living in poverty. Living like that cannot be simulated, nor should anyone believe they can fully understand the emotional and physical strain felt by those in this situation. This challenge is designed to give participants, and especially those who support efforts at poverty reduction or elimination, a small glimmer of insight into the lives of our clients and the consequences of never having enough food.

The $2 a day allowance should include all food, and for a further challenge, include your entertainment, transportation, and luxury purchases as well (what luxury purchases? on $14 a week - I don't think so!). During this challenge it is important to keep in mind that while you are “living” on $2 you have access to many things that those in poverty do not have: access to advanced medicine, sanitation, stable housing, and most importantly clean water.

Join us in advocating for those living in chronic poverty. Bring awareness to the millions of people that die every year from starvation -- literally 25,000 people die daily from starvation and related causes. Share your experience. Invite others to join the challenge and grow along with us.

Microfinance is changing the face of poverty - you can too.

Get ready: start date Aug 23rd.