Media Advisory; Save the Date
19 August 2014
Kiwis take up the challenge to end extreme poverty
High profile New Zealanders have been invited to participate in Live Below the Line (LBTL). Part of a global initiative,
LBTL challenges Kiwis to raise awareness of extreme poverty and to live on a daily food budget of $2.25 for five
consecutive days.
From 6-10 October 2014, thousands of Kiwis will participate in New Zealand’s fourth LBTL challenge. They will be joined
by more than 25,000 people from around the world who are expected to take part in the challenge.
It’s difficult to imagine all the food you can consume per day amounts to a total of just $2.25. That’s the reality for
1.2 billion people on a daily basis.
Participants can sign up on LBTL’s website and nominate the charity their sponsorship will be donated to. Oxfam, Tear
Fund, World Vision, Global Poverty Project and many other charities are LBTL partners and collectively their goal is to
raise $750,000 in New Zealand to tackle extreme poverty.
Consuming only $2.25 of food per day for five days is a challenge that more than 5000 everyday Kiwis have taken since
2011. Together they’ve raised $1 million dollars for crucial global and development work.
US Vice President Joe Biden has taken the challenge along with celebrities like Ben Affleck and sports stars like Jonah
Lomu. Since 2011 more than 50,000 people internationally have taken the challenge and raised US$12 million for 90
charities. Consequently this has sparked millions of conversations about extreme poverty.
LBTL is an innovative global campaign that’s making a huge difference in the fight against extreme poverty and is
building a movement of passionate people willing and able to make a meaningful difference to those who need it most.
Last year the 2000 New Zealand participants raised $426,000 for poverty alleviation causes and the target this year is
to raise $750,000.
To participate in LBTL sign up via the website www.livebelowtheline.com/nz
-ENDS-