GEORGE TOWN, July 21 — Penang Suaram is challenging anyone who thinks they can survive on just RM30 for five days to prove their ability to do so.
In conjunction with the Local Democracy Festival 2015, the local social activist group came up with the “Poverty Line Challenge” to spur greater awareness of what poor people face in coping with daily living expenses.
“The challenge will start on July 30 and end on August 3 when participants will live life as usual but on one condition, they can’t spend more than RM30 in the five-day period for food and beverage,” Poverty Line Challenge representative Lee Chung Lun said today.
The programme is jointly organised by Penang Suaram with the state government, which has set the poverty line at RM763 per household.
Lee said participants are required to lower their transport, communications and leisure spending, but added that the challenge will test more than just each participant’s money saving or cost-cutting skill.
Participants must write a report detailing their daily spending, their feelings and experiences throughout the duration of the challenge and submit it to the organisers by August 8.
Participants also stand to win cash prizes in three awards: the Most Saving Award of RM300, the Best Involvement Award of RM300 and the Most Popular Award of RM100.
The participant who spent the least amount on food and beverage in the five days will win the Most Saving Award while the participant who receives the most “likes” in the organiser’s Facebook page will win the Most Popular Award.
The Best Involvement Award is judged based on the participant who puts in the most effort to cut down overall spending.
Those interested to join the challenge, can contact Lee at 016-2411196/04-6582285 or email to [email protected].
