HORSHAM’S Lizzie Iredell-Burke will get a small taste of restricted living by surviving on food worth $2 each day this week.
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Miss Iredell-Burke will take part in Live Below The Line from May 4 to 8 – an initiative run by Australia’s largest youth-run organisation, Oaktree.
Two dollars a day is the Australian equivalent of the World Bank’s definition of the extreme poverty line – a reality for 1.1 billion people worldwide.
The annual initiative raises money to support education projects in Timor-Leste, Cambodia and Papua New Guinea.
It is the first time Miss Iredell-Burke has taken on the challenge.
‘‘A family friend participated last year,’’ she said.
‘‘This year it popped up on my Facebook news feed and I figured ‘why not?’.’’
Miss Iredell-Burke said she was not yet sure how she would spend her $10.
‘‘I’m still trying to work out my planning,’’ she said.
‘‘Every time I make a list, I look at it and see I’ve forgotten something.
‘‘I’m thinking bread, pasta and I’m tossing up between fresh or frozen vegetables – I might do a mix. It depends on what works out cheaper.’’
Miss Iredell-Burke said the food item she would miss most during the five days was chocolate.
‘‘It will be hard, but I’ll be able to get through it,’’ she said.
‘‘I’m a boredom eater and working nights a lot I see something and think ‘I’d like to have some of that’ and I’ll pick it up. I won’t be able to do that this week.’’
Miss Iredell-Burke works at Coles but said she would not use her staff discount to be able to afford more items.
The goal on her online fundraising page is $400. She has already raised more than $100 for the charity.
Oaktree chief executive Chris Wallace said money raised went towards scholarships, learning materials and teacher training for hundreds of men and women.
‘‘It’s built on the belief everybody should have access to an education regardless of where they’re born,’’ he said.
‘‘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 taking action on it.’’
Miss Iredell-Burke said people could donate at livebelowtheline.com.au/me/lizzieiredell.
