Imagine working 11 hours fuelled by a basic diet.

In spite of how hard she works and others like her, dinner is a simple affair. This and a small breakfast are the only meals Nida and her family will eat all day. ‘I cannot afford clothes, school fees and good food for my children,’ she says.

Something has to be done. Mark, Abbie, Victoria and Em are fundraising to empower people like Nida so that they can lift themselves out of poverty.  We are taking part in Tearfund's 'Mean Bean Challenge'.  From Sun 14th  - Thu 18th April we will be eating only porridge (made with water), boiled rice and beans (kidney, borlotti, and the like -- no sauce) and drinking only water.  It's going to be tough!

£267 doubled could give twelve people like Nida the training to work as waste collectors at a hub, enabling them to feed their families, improve their living environment and overcome poverty.

Until 17 May, all sponsorship money donated through this challenge will be doubled by the UK government, up to £3 million!  The money you give will help Tearfund transform lives around the world where the need is greatest. Match funding from the UK government will be used by Tearfund's partners in Pakistan, to help people like Nida.

Please join us as we take a stand against poverty.

To read Nida’s story and find out more about Tearfund’s amazing work, please visit their website: www.tearfund.org/meanbean

Finally, you know how much we like our food, so this isn't something we take on lightly. But if 780 million people can live on $1.90 per day, five days of rice and beans seems like a challenge worth taking.

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