SnehaSingh

I know this is an extremely late entry about my views on the challenge I undertook, however - 730 am on a Thursday morning seems perfect. 

I sensed a feeling of relief amongst my family and friends when they learnt that my challenge was done with. I, on the other hand felt quite odd. I began to think to myself - How have I tangibly contributed to this issue? How does a farmer in India or a worker in Africa who can barely manage a meal a day be affected by me taking this challenge? 

Then I remembered, I am not the only one.

There are a 100 more like me who took this challenge and successfully completed it. And that does make a difference - however small it might be. 

In the end, a gentle reminder of the oneness of humanity, that no one is better than the other is essential. Inspiring people to take steps towards helping the current situation of extreme poverty in their own way - that which motivates them was the true purpose of this challenge for me. 

I skipped a day of Blogging joy! Apologies for that! But a day of running around once more with little food rendered me very tired last night. 

It's Diwali today - a very auspicious Indian festival celebrated with deep reverence and joyous celebration. Famously known as the festival of Lights, it is a national holiday in India. One of the major ways of celebration is, ofcourse, FOOD! Lots of delicious amazing food! Sweet, savoury, and much more! So yes, hanging around at home while amazing food was being cooked was a bit of a bummer! As a religious ritual, I went to the Sikh Temple with my entire family. As all temples in India and everywhere in the world, this one also serves food (which is considered to be a blessing in Divine Presence) as a part of the religious service on Diwali. All the food is cooked collectively in a community kitchen and then the meal is eaten together after the religious service. 

In India, these meals are served on a daily basis to everyone who comes into the temple. Many people living in extreme poverty in India do go into these temples since it is a sure place to get food, and sometimes even, shelter. When I walked into the temple today, I thought to myself, ''I am doing the poverty challenge, I can't eat the food here". But in truth, there are millions like me who are not taking a challenge but living in extreme poverty and do rely on such religious and social institutions for support.

I did eat the food I received at the temple as a blessing - and honestly realised the importance of food when I actually ate my first full nourishing meal in five days. As I am slowly approaching the end of this challenge, my respect for the food on my table has found its roots inside me, a voice which is sincerely thankful :) 

Taking a challenge and living the challenge are two very different things. This challenge is not only my attempt to spread awareness amongst people about the situation of extreme poverty in the world today, but also a way to understand, however briefly, the real challenge that people living this situation each day of their lives face. 

A day of introspection.. with more tomorrow! 

What did day three bring with it? I spent ALL of day three in Manchester due to a very long interview process. I managed to grab half a bowl of milk with some cereal just before I dashed off with a box of pasta - my only food all day! Oh and two little plums too. 

I spoke to one of the guys at the interview about the poverty challenge I am doing and he was very surprised I was doing it. He then asked me all kinds of questions about the campaigns run by Oxfam and petitions about Climate Change etc. It definitely made for interesting conversation for me (and hopefully for him too!) where I told him about the other challenges volunteers have taken up to show their solidarity towards a cause. 

What I found most interesting today was how to spark attention in individuals by demonstrating something you are doing first hand. It is easy for me to talk about campaigns I help with which benefit people I don't know living in a place I have never been to. If I can't completely connect with that, how can my audience ? Ofcourse, I am passionate about campaigning even though I've never been to an extremely poor area where individuals are struggling for their basics, but I feel they should have just as much as others do, and hence I take part in campaigning. But it is more effective when people see for themselves what another does and demonstrates through action, it reinforces the seriousness of the cause for which the stand is being taken. 

Something to think about I think! :)

So I decided I needed to be more organised about this challenge. And that woke me up at half six this morning when I spent an hour trying to make a budget for myself. I spent the next hour and a half at my local supermarket looking for as much as I could get for £6 (since I had already spend £1, actually, technically 0.99p, on Day 1). 

I was surprised at how easily QUANTITY took over QUALITY. I was convinced to get as much as I can in as less as possible. I then stopped, and thought - THIS must be how people living in extreme poverty live each day - in a constant state of internal conflict. A state in which they can't have choices, but must agree with what is cheapest and fills their stomach, irrespective of its nutritional value or calorie content. 

I came home, and my brother was very surprised that I was actually able to get a bag and a half of food! All of the food I have got is 'value' food. What was in the bag? A bag of frozen veggies, four packs of instant noodles, three packs of pasta, four packs of soup, a pack of biscuits, a litre of tetra packed organic soya milk (was impressed that this was only 0.99p!), a pack of cocoa rice crispies and a pack of discounted plums (Thank God for price cuts!). According to my calculation, this is roughly 12 meals, thanks to my small appetite. However, none of this is fair trade. I can't make the choices I usually make. I feel bound.

An important part of this challenge for me is the 'AWARENESS' bit of it. Talking to people, telling them about the statistics revolving around extreme poverty and the current state of aid to the countries affected by extreme poverty. I noticed an upsurge of kindness around me, right from family members to friends, who learnt about my challenge and got ready to buy food and cook for me. I felt enormously blessed, but this also made me think. How often am I kind to a person I know needs the money or the food to make it through another day? Coming from India, I have seen several people on the streets, each day, in extreme conditions. I can see for myself that they need the resources and help - but how many times do I step up? One? Two? Five? Ten? I am fortunate enough to have family and friends who are supporting me (some more than others!) through this challenge, because they care. 

The question that rattled through me today - How deeply do we really care about the life situation of the people who are truly living through the challenge of extreme poverty?

Hopefully I'll have my answer to this question by the end of this challenge.

...and we'll be back for more tomorrow!

So I should have been better organised about my challenge. But I wasn't. So I spent Day one on a £1 Chicken Baguette I managed to find in a shop called 'EAT4LESS'. Works for me! 

However, I do know I am going to plan the next six days of my challenge wisely. 

Step One:

Shop for six days worth of food with budget = £6.

Step Two:

Talk to people about the challenge, in an attempt to make them understand what people living in extreme poverty go through. 

Step Three:

Encourage them to get involved by spreading the word through their Facebook and Twitter 

Step Four:

Write to my MP about this challenge, asking him to respond to my initiative. Let's see what he has to say! :)