Bangelore – Generation Change https://blogs.dw.com/generationchange Whether they are campaigning for free press in Zimbabwe, helping provide clean water in India, or offering free music lessons to underprivileged kids in the UK, young people all over the world are making a difference. Wed, 16 Nov 2016 16:49:27 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 Young engineer helps India’s poor https://blogs.dw.com/generationchange/2011/11/young-engineer-helps-indias-poor/ Tue, 08 Nov 2011 15:30:05 +0000 http://blogs.dw.com/generationchange/?p=729 Mathew decided to return to India and help the poor gain access to education and health services. Before embarking on the project, he tried to find out what it was like below India’s poverty line.

Young engineer helps India’s poor

Matthew (right) and his friend Tushar

Matthew (right) and his friend Tushar

Matthew's clothes line

Matthew does all his chores himself

From DW reporter Pia Chandavarkar in India:

When the Indian government’s Planning Commission recommended that the official poverty level start with those who earn a mere 65 cents per day, many were up in arms, saying the figure was too low and unreasonable. Amidst this debate, I found it interesting to see two people who went beyond arguing and tried it out themselves. When I found out they were doing this for a larger cause, I was even more intrigued. Mathew and Tushar had also spent three weeks living on the average Indian income of $2 a day in the city of Bangalore before moving on to the final phase of their project – 65 cents a day. People talk of a brain drain in India, but it’s encouraging to see talented youth return to their homeland, inspired to make a difference.

Back porch

The two live in modest accommodations

Matthew eating

Living at the poverty level means there is no money for meat

Check out Mathew and Tushar’s blog here.

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