Frequently Asked Questions

What is Live Below the line?

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Live Below the Line isn't just any fundraiser, it's a chance to be part of something bigger. It's Oaktree's flagship event and Australia's largest youth-run anti-poverty campaign. For five days starting from 15-19 May, participants get to experience living with less and raise both money and awareness for the fight against poverty and inequality.

But it's not just about the fundraising. Live Below the Line is a chance for young people to join the conversation about global citizenship and make a difference in the world. By taking part, you're championing a movement to tackle inequality and create a fairer world for all. 

How do I get started?
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As a LBL changemaker, you will embark on a  5 day journey that emphasises long-term meaningful action to create a more just and sustainable world: 

  1. Sign up for the challenge here on this website! Recruit a team or take it on solo.

  2. Pick a Line (or more) and make it personal. Choose the area you want to make a real difference in and set your goals for challenge week.

  3. Take on Challenge Week to fulfil 5 days of meaningful challenge. From 15-19 May, you are living below the line. 

  4. Even after challenge week, consider how many of the changes can you keep up. Try to keep the conversation about injustice and poverty going.
Sign up to Live Below the Line here

Who can participate?

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Live Below The Line is for everyone wanting to champion sustainable change both locally and globally, whether you're young or young at heart! While Oaktree's mission revolves around giving power to the youth for leading systemic change, we're all about spreading the love and encouraging anyone who believes in our cause to join us! So, tell your mom, your cool cousin, your favourite teacher, or even your boss - we want everyone on board! 

Do I have live below all 'Five Lines'?

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Live Below The Line is all about embracing your creativity and showing us how YOU can live in harmony with both people and the planet, while reimagining a more just and sustainable world. We're not here to limit you, so if you find it easier to focus on one specific 'line,' by all means, dive right in! But, if you're feeling adventurous and want to make small changes across all five lines, we're all for it too! Whether you want to sleep in a tent, upcycle your clothes, or try something totally out of the box, there are endless ways to make a difference. 

Read more about the five lines here. 

Can I participate in a team?

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The more always make the merrier. Pick your fighters, groups of people can participate in the Live Below the Line challenge as teams.

How can I raise funds?

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LBL is based on peer-to-peer fundraising, meaning you can ask your friends, family, and social networks to support your challenge by making a donation. 

To get started, we recommend sharing your challenge story on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. Be sure to tag us and we'll help spread the word! (#LBL23) You can also reach out to your network through email or personal conversations, explaining what Live Below the Line is and how their support can help make a real impact. And don't forget to thank your donors and keep them updated on your progress throughout the challenge! 

What does 'the line' mean? Why Five Lines?

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The term "the line" originally referred to the Live Below the Line campaign's challenge to live on a budget of $2 a day, which is the international poverty line. However, we've evolved beyond this narrow focus, as poverty is about much more than just food. It's about access, education, environment, and climate change, to name just a few factors. Representing poverty solely as malnutrition is problematic and doesn't capture the full complexity of the issue.

To address this, we've updated our approach and redefined "the line" to include five key areas to navigate: Energy, Shelter, Waste, Technology, and Food. By taking a broader view, we hope to challenge outdated perceptions of poverty and inequality and inspire creative solutions for a more just world.

What happens to the money raised through Live Below the Line?

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The money raised from Live Below the Line is distributed across our partner organisations through the Oaktree Youth Solidarity Fund (OYSF) and will invest in the development of young people’s capacity to create positive and sustainable change. Across the Asia-Pacific, young people have very different experiences and challenges. The Fund provides youth-led organisations, groups and grassroots movements across the Asia-Pacific with access to flexible funding and support to enable and empower youth-led change.


Learn more about the OYSF here.

Can I participate in Live Below the Line as a team?

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Live Below the Line is better as a team - so we encourage groups of people to participate in the challenge together. When you create your profile, simply choose the option to create a team and come up with a catchy team name. Then, invite your friends, family, colleagues, or anyone else who might be interested to join your team and take on the challenge with you.

Teams can be a great source of motivation and support throughout the challenge, and you can even compete with other teams to see who can make the biggest impact. Gather your squad and get ready to make a difference together!

I have another question. Where do I get support?

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If your question hasn’t been answered here, contact director.livebelowtheline@theoaktree.org and one of our friendly team members will get back to you! Alternatively, you can fill out the web-form below. 

Got any more questions?