The Poverty Challenge

Michael and I are taking the Poverty Challenge.  $1.50 USD a day is the generally agreed worldwide limit for EXTREME POVERTY.  This means that a person is trying to cover all life's expenses on only $1.50 USD a day or its equivalent.  While Michael and I wouldn't be able to do that and still have shelter, a car, or continue working our jobs, we'd like to try to gain some perspective on what that might be like.  So...we've decided to limit our food and drink intake to whatever we can purchase with $1.50 a day.  We've created some rules that you'll see below to guide us.  Most people taking the challenge last 1 week.  We want to last soooo much longer!  Sponsor us by donating to our favorite charity to keep our spirits high!

This challenge won't be easy, but as I go through each day I am reminded of the challenges that the people that I have grown to consider my family in Hohoe, Ghana, West Africa experience day to day.  Please keep our spirits up and donate to Community in Action for Self help Projects on our behalf.  Sponsor us today and become 1 of my top 101!

My fundraising goal is $1000 by January 2013!  This means if 101 people donate $10 or more I'll exceed my goal.  Please become one of my top 101!  Please help the children and families of Hohoe, Ghana today!

Donate Here!


Our Rules for the Poverty Challenge:

1. No person may spend more than $1.50 per day on food and drink combined.  
2. Water is considered free - though in many developing countries to get clean fresh water we would likely have to pay
3. Items from the garden are considered an agricultural venture and are free
4. No stealing from other people's gardens or you'll be arrested by the Poverty Challenge Police (Me)
5. No begging for food 
6. If food is left out as shared food at work you may partake as if someone has invited you over for dinner (Hope you have generous neighbors)
7. Legitimate trade and barter is acceptable (food for food trade or food for work trade)
8. Use of pantry items already purchased before the challenge NOT ALLOWED!  Except for spices
9. No participant may use more than 1 additional day's credit (for example on day 1 the participant is allowed $1.50 and my use up to an additional $1.50 for the next day's credit so purchases may not exceed $3.00 and the second day no purchases may be made).
10. Each challenger is offered 1 foul per week for small otherwise unforeseen infractions (mislabeling of food at the market is a good example).
11. The poverty challenge begins first thing Monday 8/13 and concludes when we have reached our $1000 fundraising goal (or when we can no longer continue on :( )!!  Help us reach our fundraising goal!