A STUDENT has been living in poverty in a bid to raise funds for communities in India.

Kathryn Ramsden, 21, had just £1 a day to feed herself during the five-day Living Below the Poverty Line Challenge, which she completed this week.

Ms Ramsden, from Darlington, took on the challenge to raise money for Raleigh International, a charity working to improve community sustainability in India.

Hitting an £800 target will allow the Derby University student to spend ten weeks volunteering with the charity on a development programme run by the International Citizen Service (ICS).

She said: “I wanted to do something that was out of my comfort zone and was a challenge for me.

“I thought this would help to raise awareness and at the same time give me an insight into what it’s like for anyone living in poverty – some people don’t even have that £1 a day.

“The type of food I’ve been eating has been very repetitive and it’s been difficult watching my family eat nice food while I’m eating bland things like rice with frozen vegetables.

“The people I’ll be working with in India won’t have much money to feed themselves and no hygienic conditions to prepare their food in.

“I wanted to raise awareness for them and for others living in poverty all over the world, even in England.”

She added: “Going to India will really open my eyes, I’m really looking forward to it and it’ll be a once in a life time experience.”

To sponsor Ms Ramsden, visit justgiving.com/k-ramsden

All funds raised will go directly to the charity and not towards Ms Ramsden’s personal expenses.