Could you live on $2 a day?
The World Partnership Walk challenged Bobby Foley to only spend what half the world's population lives on
In anticipation of the World Partnership Walk for Aga Khan Foundation Canada, I was challenged to put myself in the place of people living in developing countries and try to live on less than two dollars per day. Like many of us here at Fanshawe, I'm always up for a challenge.
Approximately three billion people - or about a half of the world's population - are able to live on less than two dollars per day. The AKFC works in part with the Canadian International Development Agency on initiatives to improve communities throughout Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
So the challenge was set: could I live as many in the world do, and try to walk a mile in their shoes?
I thought I might be successful; truthfully, I don't spend a lot of money from day to day. I drink mostly water, I pack lunches instead of buying them, and I use public transportation more often than driving to get around. So I agreed to give it a shot... but I failed before I even began.
See, I immediately thought of food. I'm not sure why honestly, but I bet that reading this right now, that's the first thing that came to mind for you as well. “I can find a way to live on two dollars worth of food a day,” I thought, and began to think of ways I could make some cuts. It would be difficult, sure, but I was willing to do what it took.
But then I realized that with my bus pass alone, I'm completely knocked out of the challenge. In London, a standard monthly pass for students costs $70, which divided by thirty days equals about $2.33 per day. I could give up public transportation and walk, but with nearly 10K to get to work, the trip would take me more than two hours each way (a reality these communities face every day).
And then there's my cell phone - the $60 I spend for it every month gives me the freedom to listen to music, stay connected through email and Facebook, and more. I rely on it for communication, but it blows my budget for the day outright. The choice of living without my phone or living without food or clean water seems simple enough, but begrudgingly so.
Which is the point, really - as students and young individuals, we've grown up being accustomed to technology, to the point it's easy to take it for granted. I don't often think of my monthly expenses as any kind of daily increment, but taking into account my apartment, utilities, groceries, services like cable and Internet, and others, well... I live on something close to $74 per day, which could actually sustain a family in such a community for over a month.
This is where the World Partnership Walk comes in: since 1985, it has grown to become the largest and most successful event of its kind aimed at increasing awareness and raising funds to fight global poverty. Over the past 26 years, the event has raised more than $50 million for AKFC, including over $6.5 million raised by more than 70,000 people in 2009.
On June 6, the World Partnership Walk takes place here in London at Springbank Gardens. There is a full schedule of events taking place, and a lot of activities and entertainment in addition to the walk. For more information on the event, or to register to participate, visit WorldPartnershipWalk.com.
And as this story has inspired so much thought and insight in me, I'm going to volunteer at the event - I will be participating as a part of the media team on site, and emceeing the live entertainment throughout the afternoon. If little else, I hope that some of my thoughts have inspired some of your own, and maybe you'll come out and participate as well. Hope to see you there.
In anticipation of the World Partnership Walk for Aga Khan Foundation Canada, I was challenged to put myself in the place of people living in developing countries and try to live on less than two dollars per day. Like many of us here at Fanshawe, I'm always up for a challenge.
Approximately three billion people - or about a half of the world's population - are able to live on less than two dollars per day. The AKFC works in part with the Canadian International Development Agency on initiatives to improve communities throughout Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
So the challenge was set: could I live as many in the world do, and try to walk a mile in their shoes?
I thought I might be successful; truthfully, I don't spend a lot of money from day to day. I drink mostly water, I pack lunches instead of buying them, and I use public transportation more often than driving to get around. So I agreed to give it a shot... but I failed before I even began.
See, I immediately thought of food. I'm not sure why honestly, but I bet that reading this right now, that's the first thing that came to mind for you as well. “I can find a way to live on two dollars worth of food a day,” I thought, and began to think of ways I could make some cuts. It would be difficult, sure, but I was willing to do what it took.
But then I realized that with my bus pass alone, I'm completely knocked out of the challenge. In London, a standard monthly pass for students costs $70, which divided by thirty days equals about $2.33 per day. I could give up public transportation and walk, but with nearly 10K to get to work, the trip would take me more than two hours each way (a reality these communities face every day).
And then there's my cell phone - the $60 I spend for it every month gives me the freedom to listen to music, stay connected through email and Facebook, and more. I rely on it for communication, but it blows my budget for the day outright. The choice of living without my phone or living without food or clean water seems simple enough, but begrudgingly so.
Which is the point, really - as students and young individuals, we've grown up being accustomed to technology, to the point it's easy to take it for granted. I don't often think of my monthly expenses as any kind of daily increment, but taking into account my apartment, utilities, groceries, services like cable and Internet, and others, well... I live on something close to $74 per day, which could actually sustain a family in such a community for over a month.
This is where the World Partnership Walk comes in: since 1985, it has grown to become the largest and most successful event of its kind aimed at increasing awareness and raising funds to fight global poverty. Over the past 26 years, the event has raised more than $50 million for AKFC, including over $6.5 million raised by more than 70,000 people in 2009.
On June 6, the World Partnership Walk takes place here in London at Springbank Gardens. There is a full schedule of events taking place, and a lot of activities and entertainment in addition to the walk. For more information on the event, or to register to participate, visit WorldPartnershipWalk.com.
And as this story has inspired so much thought and insight in me, I'm going to volunteer at the event - I will be participating as a part of the media team on site, and emceeing the live entertainment throughout the afternoon. If little else, I hope that some of my thoughts have inspired some of your own, and maybe you'll come out and participate as well. Hope to see you there.
