Notes from Lecture on Living in Extreme Poverty

Introduction

• Speaker: Chris, grew up near New York City
• Friend: Zach from Seattle
• Both have similar upbringings and life experiences

Context of the Project

• Introduction of Chino, a 12-year-old boy from Guatemala living in extreme poverty (less than $1 a day)
• Over 1.1 billion people globally survive on $1 a day
• Chris and Zach study International Development
• Plan to spend summer in Chino’s village living on $1 a day

Purpose of the Experience

• Goal: Understand what it means to live under $1 a day
• Motivation: Gain firsthand experience of extreme poverty
• Team: Includes filmmakers to document the journey

Journey to Guatemala

• Travel from Guatemala City to Pena Blanca on a crowded chicken bus
• Description of rural poverty: 7 out of 10 people live under the poverty line
• Community: Small village, mostly Mayan people speaking Kachikal

Simulation of Poverty

• Budget: $1 per day for 56 days; unpredictable income to mimic real-life situations
• Business Simulation: Taking a loan of $125 for housing and radish farming
  • Experimenting with microfinance to determine its impact
• Daily Income Simulation: Randomly drawing numbers for income (0-9)

Daily Life in Poverty

• Challenges of budgeting for food:
  • Firewood is expensive
  • Inadequate nutrition observed among participants
• The physical toll of inadequate food: lethargy and health issues
• Struggles to find water and grow food

Community Interaction

• Meet community members Anthony and Rosa
• Observed their efforts to manage living costs, including food and education for children
• Developed a friendship with locals, and learned about their resilience despite poverty

Key Themes from Experiences

• Community Support: Importance of a tight-knit community in managing crises
• Financial Skills: Learning how people in poverty manage their limited resources
• Cultural Exchange: Engaging with locals and understanding their daily struggles

Reflections on Poverty

• Strong emotional impact of witnessing extreme poverty firsthand
• Realization of the complexities of living day-to-day under financial strain
• Importance of nutrition and health—participants experienced health issues
  • Chris diagnosed with Giardia
• Discussions about the importance of proper cooking equipment and resources

Conclusion

• Empowerment through Financial Services: Microfinance can help provide opportunities to improve lives
• Personal Growth: The experience changed perceptions of poverty and the struggles faced daily
• Future Implications: Understanding that small changes can significantly impact those living in poverty, yet larger systemic issues remain
• Closing reflections on the relationship formed with the community, and how individual actions can collectively change the world.