Ben Affleck started his Eastern Congo charity to set an example to his daughters
Stephen: While this sort of event doesn’t prevent poverty, it does highlight it and bring it into the wider consciousness. So kudos to those who are actually going to try it as we welcome them to the ‘real’ world. Hopefully, they will be moved to further assist in eliminating this global problem by looking at the root causes…
Ben Affleck Takes Up Challenge to Live on $1.50 a Day
By Bonnie Malkin, The Telegraph, UK – April 25, 2013
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/10016898/Ben-Affleck-takes-up-challenge-to-live-on-1.50-a-day.html
Millionaire Hollywood actor Ben Affleck has taken up the challenge to live on $1.50 (98p) a day for five days in an attempt to highlight poverty around the globe.
The Academy Award winner will join thousands, including actor Jonah Hill and singer Josh Groban, taking part in the Live Below the Line Challenge.
The actor and director announced his decision to get involved with the cause on Twitter, saying he was taking part on behalf of the Eastern Congo Initiative, the charity he set up in 2010 to help displaced people in the Eastern Congo.
Organisers of the challenge recommend that participants spend the $7.50 allowance on food at the start of the week. Those taking part are not allowed to eat food from their pantries or accept food donated from friends and family, but they are allowed to drink tap water.
“We recommend doing research and creating a shopping list, sticking to generic staples such as pasta, lentils, rice, bread, vegetables, potatoes and oats,” the website advises.
An estimated 1.4 billion people live in extreme poverty.
Affleck, a father of three who is married to actress Jennifer Garner, has said in the past that he set up his charity to set an example to his daughters and “do more with my life than just make movies and try to make money.”
via Golden Age of Gaia
