VxPoD (285) : DOES CHARITY BEGIN AT HOME?

Poverty is a global issue and few people would disagree that we all need to be thinking and doing more to redress the widening gap between the rich and poor.

While governments often seem ineffective, many individuals have joined charity groups aiming to alleviate the impact of poverty on those at home and abroad.

"Live Below the Line is a physical and mental challenge that will change the way you see poverty and make a big difference for the world's poorest. The 'Live Below the Line Challenge' invites individuals to live on $2.25 a day for five days to raise money and awareness for the 1.2 billion people worldwide who survive on less than $2.25 a day." https://www.livebelowtheline.com/nz#sthash.XlR3tJtu.dpuf

This year NZ herald reporter Morgan Tait took up the challenge. She found it "tougher than expected" and she "nearly fainted at the gym".
m.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11340779

TV host Petra Bagust and her family also undertook the five day challenge, claiming that "discipline was the key to living on nothing".
m.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11340774

Bagust reflects: "It is important to be inconvenienced in life by the ideas and realities that are worth thinking about."

"Campaign manager for the New Zealand effort, Sam Drumm, said it gave participants an insight into what was an everyday reality for people around the world."

Should we view these periods of inconvenience as worthwhile occasions to raise much needed funds or are participants' actions patronising, given that after the five day period they can return to their comfortable, and possibly, in some cases, lavish lifestyles?

Can we really know what it is like to live in poverty unless we are really poor? Should we try? Do we need to attempt to experience 'poverty' in order to be able to offer help to others? Alternatively should these events be seen as commendable efforts to make a difference - even if the inconvenience is short-lived?

What do you think? Commendable or patronising?

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