#BelowtheLine

This week, Ben Affleck and other celebrities will take part in the Live Below the Line campaign, “which asks people to live on $1.50 a day to raise money for various charities such as UNICEF, the World Food Programme and others.” Affleck will specifically raise money and awareness for war-torn Eastern Congo and his charity to support economic development there. Poverty is an issue that continues to affect people in the United States and around the world. Share an article about Live Below the Line #BelowtheLine with young adults and talk about ways you might work to make a difference in the lives of the poor in your community and around the world:

  • What are some examples from scripture of Jesus and others working with and caring for the poor? How might these examples inspire us today?
  • When you think about “poverty,” what related social justice issues or specific contemporary hardships do you see in your community?
  • What might you do individually or as a group to raise your own awareness about issues related to poverty? Would something like living on $1.50/day be a good exercise? Or something like it? Come up with something for individuals or the group to do.
  • What parish ministries or charities in your local community are doing work with the poor that you might contribute to? Come up with a plan to volunteer or contribute financially in some way to these ministries. (If you take on the challenge of living on $1.50/day, encourage young adults to give the money they save to one of the ministries you named.)