All this week, May 7-11, Opportunity supporters around the country, including members of Young Ambassadors for Opportunity (YAO) and Board of Governors, and our own staff took part in the Global Poverty Project’s Live Below the Line challenge to eat and drink for only $1.50 a day. They’re raising awareness for the 1.4 billion people who have to not only eat, but cover all their expenses, on an average daily income of $1.50, and these supporters are taking the challenge in support of Opportunity International’s life-changing work. Get to know a a few of these individuals, hear why they’re doing it, and if you missed your chance to take the challenge this week don’t worry! Live Below the Line continues, and Opportunity supporters are still taking part. You can find out how to get involved at livebelowtheline.com/us-opportunity.

Actress Malin Akerman–Opportunity supporter, star of upcoming movie Rock of Ages, recent traveler to see Opportunity’s work Tanzania:

Katherine Haley, Young Ambassadors member, co-chair of YAO-DC:
Check out Katherine’s Live Below the Line impact page and blog at livebelowtheline.com/me/katherinehaley, where she explains her motivation this way: “In today’s world, extreme poverty and inequality are unjustifiable and unfair. Live Below the Line demonstrates the problem in a concrete way, while raising money to address the problem.” Katherine has already raised over $3,000 for Opportunity International’s work, and you can help her with a gift that encourages her and makes an impact on global poverty all at the same time.

Courtney Abernethy, member of the Board of Governors, will take the Live Below the Line challenge next week with her 11-year-old daughter Preston:

"I feel like I am always going around trying to generate awareness about the reality of global poverty, especially with my children. In Matthew, Jesus tells his disciples to feed the hungry because whatever you do for the least of these, you are doing for me. Now, most of us who go to church know this. But how can we make this command real and relevant while living in a culture of excess? Live Below the Line challenges us–adults, children, whole families–to look at how much food costs and how little $1.50 actually can provide. It forces you to walk in the shoes of 1.4 billion people across the globe. Once you experience it just for a week, then hopefully, you will respond with a desire to alleviate this reality. Our goal is five days Live Below the Line… I plan on visiting Preston’s school to have our simple lunch together, to share what and why we are choosing to do something so simple when 1.4 billion do not get a choice. Sometimes we talk about truths, beliefs and convictions but never take any action because we do not know how or where to start. Live Below the Line gives people a tangible way to put action behind those words."

Abbi Antablin, the Regional Director for YAO at Opportunity, takes us shopping on her first day on the Live Below the Line challenge:

Ian Haisley, Opportunity’s Director of Online Strategy, blogs and gives us a first-hand peek at the challenge of “living below the line”… and why it’s worth it:

He’s been detailing his experiences on his blog ianhaisley.com. Here’s one of his reflections from Day 2: “It’s not that I’m extremely hungry today, I’ve actually been surprised how much less I really need to feel full. Its just that I should have removed the things I can’t eat [chocolate, cranberry juice] from my view. I suppose that is a blessing and a curse that comes along with living in the U.S., food is often extremely accessible. It is so easy to forget that there are over a billion people who can’t just walk to their local Trader Joe’s and grab something to eat.” To support Ian’s challenge, go to www.livebelowtheline.com/me/ianhaisley.

Learn More
On Thursday, the Global Poverty Project posted a multimedia presentation on Google+ called ”1.4 Billion Reasons,” which educates the public about extreme poverty. You can see the presentation on Google+ by clicking here.

As Malin Akerman says, “I dare you to challenge yourself.” Take the Live Below the Line challenge in support of Opportunity. Go to livebelowtheline.com/us-opportunity.