The latest antics of Tara Lee

It has been awhile since I have had a chance to just sit beneath the Peace Tree. I am at an exciting moment in my life where I have received my final results for honours and can begin to embrace the real world outside of my cocoon of study.

So in the past month, I have thrown all my energy into a campaign I am incredibly passionate about.  Live Below the Line, is an Oaktree Foundation initiative where participants feed themselves on $2 a day for five days while raising funds and awareness for the 1.2 billion people living in extreme poverty each day. 

Personally, I love this campaign as it is more than just a fundraising campaign. Live Below the Line encourages personal awareness through experiencing a "taste" of what it is like to live in extreme poverty while also creating countless conversations about this important issue and what can be done about it.

My role as Geelong Coordinator has had its share of challenges but nothing beats that feeling when you are surrounded by people who are as passionate as you are. My lovely Geelong LBL ninjas helped me paper Geelong with posters and chalked messages of ending extreme poverty. 

I have also hosted a Whovian Dinner Below the Line, given presentations to local community groups, contacted MPs, about to hold a Live Below the Line kitchen tea, started organising a celebration fundraiser, and have very talented friends who created an amazing Live Below the Line video.

As you can see it's been a busy month of Live Below the Line but I love it. 

Outside of the world of Oaktree, I have started my search for employment. I believe that working in early intervention is where my heart lies and I look forward to embracing the world of the paediatric occupational therapist very soon. 

So where am I now? Quite literally sitting in a library about to do a Live Below the Line presentation. But where am I really? I can confidently say, I am in a happy place. 

You can join Live Below the Line or sponsor me here. 

UK leading the way

The United Kingdom, the land that has brought Enid Blyton tales and the wonderful world of Doctor Who into my life. Now, the United Kingdom has brought hope. Not just into my life but into 1.3 billion people living in extreme poverty and those who are campaigning for an end to extreme poverty. 

Yesterday it was announced that the United Kingdom will now allocate 70 pence out of every 100 pounds of their national budget towards foreign aid. This is such an exciting and historic moment as the UK become the first country to reach this target of 0.7% GNI. 

With such important steps, the United Kingdom is now leading the way for an end to extreme poverty. Now for Australia to follow. 

To join the Movement to End Poverty and encourage our nation to follow in the UK's footsteps by committing to 0.7% GNI for foreign aid head to www.endpoverty.com.au

A reminder of values

Today I was asked to do a presentation at Clonard College, my old high school. The focus of my presentation was the Movement to End Poverty and the power young people have to make a difference in our world. 

As I listened to the teacher introduce me to her young Year 10 students, I realised just how far I have come since sitting in those very same school chairs. My confidence and approach on life has changed since my own Year 10 days. I have always shown an interest in helping others but now I know just how much of a difference I can make. 

I began to speak about the impact the Oaktree Foundation has had on my life. Through campaigns, camps and trainings I have learned so much. I learned that I have a voice! That I can truly make a difference in our world. The Oaktree Foundation was one of the first organisations where I really felt listened to and valued as a fellow activist. I learned that I was not alone in working towards an end to extreme poverty!

I continued with my presentation highlighting the strong voice and power that young people have in creating positive change in our world. The importance of aid and what it has done for our global community was discussed with some great questions asked. I remember feeling confident in all I said. I have come a long way in confidence and knowledge of my self and social justice issues since I sat in the classroom in my dress and blazer. 

After my presentation, I was invited to stay and assist in their classroom while they worked on their community service projects. It was such a great experience talking with students in smaller groups as they explained their understanding of the Catholic social justice principles and how they relate to the work that organisations do within the global community. 

Having these conversations discussing the Catholic social justice principles was a lovely reminder of the values I believe in. These principles are the foundations that have shaped the work that I do. To me, these social justice principles are no longer just print in a book but are now incorporated throughout my life. 

Human dignity, working towards a common good, assisting the poor, participation and social inclusion, solidarity and subsidiarity, and to show stewardship for all creation. This is what I believe in and follow each day.

I will continue to work for a peaceful and just world for all. I hope that you will join me. 

Difficult decisions

My roadtrip bag just sits there. My campaign flag is folded up neatly. My ambassador T-shirt and lanyard resting on top. 

Day one into the road trip and my knee decided to have a hissy fit. Well not exactly a hissy fit but I did manage to aggravate an old knee injury. End result: return home from the road trip. 

Life really is made up of difficult decisions and I can honestly say this was one of them. I cannot begin to tell you how excited I was to be able to go on this road trip. Especially after the last road trip I had been accepted as an ambassador but couldn't go because I was on crutches at the time.  I remember thinking just last week how brilliant it was that there was nothing physically stopping me for going on this road trip and it felt good. Till the end of day one that is.

So I had to make the tough decision to return home and not continue campaigning my way to the lawns of parliament. Now, it would be all to easy for me to feel defeated by this Roadtrip. I mean I didn't even make it out of the state but I refuse to feel defeated or knocked down. Yes my knee hurts, yes I'm not physically on the RT but it doesn't mean I can't continue campaigning. 

All day I have been having conversations about ending extreme poverty. With friends, family, colleagues and even strangers. Yesterday alone I collected 54 signatures. Because of my knee I had to see my doctor yesterday ... walked out with his signature on the petition. Every person, every opportunity. 

I may still be in my home town but I am determined to have my voice heard. I will continue to campaign for what I know is right.

An end to extreme poverty, that's what I'm working towards. Will you join me?

You can sign the petition here at endpoverty.com.au
 

Our voices loud and clear

The Oaktree Foundation has shown me time and time again the power of young people. Yesterday began the Roadtrip to End Poverty, an amazing initiative where 1000 young, passionate Australians will be campaigning across our nation. 

Through the road trip, I have been blessed with brilliant new friendships. The road trip has offered opportunities that allow us to become the amazing, confident individuals that we can be. 

From ambassadors overcoming challenges of stepping out of their comfort zones as well as tackling the tricky questions, to the young ambassador who spoke these words at her school, I am proud to know them all.

"We may be young. We may not have much money, or be able to vote, or be old enough to drive. But we all have a voice and our voices together make noise loud enough to change the world."

~ Ebony Brown, 16

They all understand the importance of ending extreme poverty and show such inspiring determination in achieving this goal. 

One person can speak up, one person has a voice.

Imagine the sound of one thousand voices united with the Australian communities. With that volume they will have to listen and they will have to take action.

What we're asking is for the Australian Government to commit to 0.7% GNI by 2020. 
That's only 70c out of every $100. 

We have the potential to end extreme poverty in our lifetime. 

Australia should be a part of that movement. So will you use your voice?

You can sign our petition at endpoverty.com.au

Thank you for joining me in the movement to end poverty. 

The road awaits

Only three more nights spent at home in my bed before I will be venturing into communities across Australia with 1000 other young Australians with one message on our lips...will you join the movement to end poverty?

How are we planning on doing this? Well, young people have an amazing power to be heard, to make change in this world. So, imagine the energy of a thousand young people travelling and campaigning all across the nation with the same message: We can end extreme poverty in our life time, will you join the movement?

A week long of travelling, campaigning, petition signing and conversations about extreme poverty await us. We are ready. We are pumped. We can do this!

By Thursday, we will be on the lawns of our parliament. With the support of our communities behind us, we aim to get the government to commit to 0.7% GNI to foreign aid by 2020. If our country can commit to just 70 cents in every $100, we will have the potential to be a part of the end to extreme poverty.

Together we can end extreme poverty!


To join the movement head to endpoverty.com.au or text your name, post code and email address to 0467 777 333.

Ending extreme poverty, join the movement!

This Saturday, I will be hitting the road along with a bus full of amazing, enthusiastic young people. We have a mission. To rally Australia to join the movement to end extreme poverty. 

With 1000 young people embarking on similar road trips, we are heading through communities nation wide. Having thousands of conversations about extreme poverty and foreign aid with the aim to collect over 100 000 signatures. These signatures we will be taking straight to parliament where we will be having many conversations with politicians showing them that Australians want to support foreign aid and an end to poverty.

So, if you are keen to see an end to extreme poverty come and join the movement.

You can sign our petition at endpoverty.com.au or send a simple text with your name, postcode and email address to 0467 777 333. 

We can end extreme poverty. We can end it in our lifetime. Let's see history happen!

Young people have the power to make a difference to create change in this world and the Road Trip to End Poverty is just the beginning!

Imagine the possibility

It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday 
Is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow. 

~ Robert H. Goddard

Ending extreme poverty is a cause I am extremely passionate about. This is why I continue to campaign, to educate and to ultimately work towards an end to extreme poverty. 

Why do I care so much? 

I have a strong belief that we are all individuals no matter what race, religion, social status or background you come from. I believe that all people are entitled to the basic human rights of food, education and medicine. I believe that people should be able to do the things they need and want to do without being scared for their lives or stopped because of easily broken barriers. 

We live in a world where we have enough resources to end extreme poverty. No one need go hungry and many diseases are preventable. There is injustice in our world and I want to do something about it.

Throughout my years of campaigning, I have faced many people who say it is impossible to end extreme poverty. But is it really? I don't think so at all. 

In the past twenty years, just my life time, the numbers of people living in extreme poverty has been HALVED. 

So can we end extreme poverty? Yes.

Better still we have the power to end it in our lifetime! 

Imagine if we could end extreme poverty in our lifetime. What an amazing legacy we could leave our children and grandchildren. In years to come, our world could be with out extreme poverty. It might seem impossible but it can be achieved. I have hope and I will not stop until we can say we have ended extreme poverty. 

Just imagine the possibility!

A taste for Live Below the Line

One of the first questions I am asked about Live Below the Line is “but what will you eat!?”

My answer is usually “not much, not much at all”.

There is enough food to survive on but it is really not enough.

Anyone around me during Live Below the Line week would see how utterly exhausted I was and hungry as I went to bed each night.

I still had to get up each morning and face uni but I was barely there mentally. My focus had decided to leave for a holiday last week and fatigue and hunger settled in.

I cannot stress enough how tough I found the challenge this year.

So to give you an insight into what food did make it into my rumbly tummy, here is my menu for the Live Below the Line week.

Day One: $1.82

For 24 cents, my day started with bland, gluggy and almost burnt porridge.

To get me through my long day of uni study, I snacked on a small ration of peanuts at 25c.

Yummy banana oat bread was my saviour for the week, filling and cheap at only 14c a slice. I bartered for local free range eggs and bought the cheapest overripe bananas I could find.

Day One ended with a small bowl of pasta and lentils at 91c. I wish I could have added some cheese but there was no room in my small budget.

Day Two: $1.23

Second day and I realise that I forgot to soak my oats the night before for breakfast...therefore no breakfast for me before heading off to uni.

Again, I snacked on a small ration of peanuts through my long day at uni. Was incredibly difficult to focus in lectures as I just had no energy at all.

Lunch was two slices of banana oat bread at 28c and dinner was a small portion of chicken flavoured rice. Desperately felt like comfort eating today but you can’t really budget in chocolate or ice cream when you only have two dollars to spend each day. My stomach was growling as I went to bed that night.

Day Three: 74c

There was one slice of banana oat bread left for breakfast unfortunately a tad stale. Heated up with a tiny bit of butter and made for a yummy meal. Not enough though.

Was unable to cook anything for my lunch so was incredibly hungry for most of the day.

Dinner was a “large” serving of chicken flavoured rice at 60c. The rice was a bit bland and I would have loved some vegies but I was not complaining. Every last grain in that bowl disappeared!

Day Four: $1.90

Again, was so tired the night before and forgot to soak my oats. No porridge for breakfast so I had a bowl of rice, not as filling as oats but it was a meal.

For lunch I had small bowl of pasta and was very hungry for more but at 40c for my serve I couldn’t afford anymore.

Dinner was again chicken flavoured rice but to “spice it up” I cooked up an egg to go with it. Extra protein and was quite yummy although definitely getting over eating rice!

I worked late that night on an assignment and so I made some homemade chips to try and get me through my work. There was not a lot but it was just enough.

Day Five: $1.95

Yet another meal of rice but cooked up with an egg for some extra protein. I needed as much energy as I could get at this stage. You know it is taking a toll on you, when you wake up and your stomach is already growling.

While working away on an assignment, I snacked on a small ration of peanuts and had a lunch of plain pasta at 65c.

My final meal for Live Below the Line was, surprise surprise, a bowl of rice.

It may not have been a very filling week or even a week of variety but it is a challenge that 1.4 billion people face every day.

If you would like to support the Live Below the Challenge, please head to https://www.livebelowtheline.com/me/tarawatts to donate. 

Feeling well below the line...

This past week has got to be one of my roughest weeks, emotionally and physically and everything in between.

I have had tears, headaches and overall exhaustion resulting in poorly written pieces of work and many long naps.

Two dollars is really not a lot of money if you think about it.

It is almost like some impossible battle of physical combat to make that two dollars stretch so you have enough to live on each day.

It’s tough.

I only did the Live Below the Line challenge for five days but it was my choice.

Knowing that 1.4 billion people in our world live like this every day is beyond frustrating.

In our world we have enough resources and food to support our neighbours yet many go hungry.

So this is why so many thousands across Australia participated in this challenge; to raise awareness and funds for our neighbours, for these people living in extreme poverty.

Together we can make a difference.

Collectively, $1,616,123 has been raised so far. It is just amazing!

This money will go towards the Oaktree Foundation and their work in Papua New Guinea.

Funds will help to support programs for young women and men where they will receive life skills and vocational training.

Helping people help themselves out of the cycle of poverty.

If you would like to support the Live Below the Line campaign, please head to www.livebelowtheline.com/me/tarawatts to donate. Every little bit counts.

Thank you for all of you who have supported me during this campaign especially my family who put up with my cranky moods, my friends for letting me drool as they eat their own meals and for the amazing people of The Evening Cast who are collecting donations at their next gig.

Together we can break this cycle of poverty! 

Challenge...accepted!

I believe in a world without poverty. I believe we can all make a difference. Now I'm putting my beliefs into practice by living on $2 a day for five days.

Live Below the Line, is an amazing challenge that raises awareness and funds for an end to extreme poverty. 

By accepting the challenge, I will be spending only $2 on my food each day for five days. In our world, there are 1.4 billion people who live on this amount or less each day. And so I accept the challenge for them.

Here’s a brilliant video that explains how Live Below the Line works.

Personally, I love the approach of the Live Below the Line challenge:

• To encourage personal awareness through experiencing a taste (or rather lack of...meals are pretty bland) of what it is like to live in poverty.
• To create so many conversations about extreme poverty and what can be done about it.
• To raise funds to assist people to help themselves out of poverty.

If we all work together, we can make a difference in this world!

So as I plan my menu for the rest of the week, I encourage you to take the time to think of those living below the line. I know I will.

If you would like to support me, you can head to my fundraising page to donate. Thank you.