Jamie Horay 17 of Alexandra Hills experienced a taste of poverty recently when she lived for five days, spending just $2 a day on food.
The Cleveland High student joined the Oaktree initiative from May 7 to 11 in order to have a better idea of what people suffering extreme poverty went through. She also used the experience as part of school assignment on food consumption.
“I may have lived on $10 for five days, but even so I only caught a glimpse of the food side of poverty. I am lucky. I still had a hot shower and shelter, water, electricity and transport. This is a miniscule perspective of the bigger pucture,” she said.
Jamie said she predominantly lived on pasta and potatoes and went to bed hungry for most of the week.
“Mum was a bit worried about me not eating vegetables and such. But she also understood the point behind me doing it,” she said.
Jamie said she was offered food from her friends at school, but chose to stick to her eating plan and “not cheat”.
“I wanted to stick to it and not just eat what I want. It was hard though eating morning tea around my friends and not being able to eat what I wanted.”
“I feel privileged to have access to food. There are people in the world who don’t. I think people need to be aware of this and get involved and help people. I read somewhere that fortunate people should build a longer table, not a taller wall,” she said.
Jamie said she hopes to study social work or become a lawyer when she finishes school at the end of the year.
She has raised $330 and lost 1kg during her five-day campaign. Further donations can be made to livebelowtheline.com.au/fundraisers/jamiehoray/5-day-challenge
