Food Budget Activity


Here is the opportunity to experience something of a child’s life – can you do it?

OBJECTIVES:

Evaluate conditions affecting individuals and families with a variety of disadvantaging conditions

Discuss and analyze issues affecting children in Africa/Uganda

Describe ways to help their peers around the world

Demonstrate knowledge of cultural, economic, and social conditions in developed and developing nations of the contemporary world

Essential Understandings:

  • What a typical day is like for some Ugandan children
  • That some children lack basic needs
  • How to help children around the world
  • How to distinguish between needs and wants

Lesson/Activity

In this activity you will implement strict budgeting skills, save money, and then GIVE WHAT YOU SAVE!
For most of the families we serve in Uganda, the average income is less than $1.25/day, that is about $37.50/month.
 Check your family’s budget:

  • How much do you spend in a month on food?
  • How much per person?

Budget Challenge:

  • Take $37.50 to the grocery store.
  • See if you can buy enough to feed your family for a weekend (without using food you already have at home).

QUESTIONS:

  1. What kinds of food would you need to buy?
  2. What foods will you need to avoid?
  3. How many days can you “stretch” that money?

Hunger Challenge:

EXPERIENCE HUNGER

  • Fasting (Be sure you are physically able to do this – you should check with your doctor!)
  • Serve only tea for supper  (Many of our kids count this as their “meal”)

Questions: 
Going to bed hungry…

  1. Was it hard to get to sleep?
  2. Did you sleep well?
  3. How did you feel when you woke up?
  4. Did you find comfort in knowing that you could eat in the morning?
  5. How well do you think you would do in school without food?