We are pleased to announce that popular TV actress Chipo Chung is this year’s face of Live Below the Line for Peace Direct. She will be living on £1 a day for five days to raise vital funds for our work.
Born in a refugee camp in Africa, she has since appeared in Dr Who, Camelot and is currently shooting the new Sky Atlantic series Fortitude. Chipo was also chosen as one of the BBC 100 Women. This year she wants to give something back by helping vulnerable people in conflict zones.
In speaking about the challenge Chipo says, “I’ve always been a bit wary, as it seems such a hard thing to do, but this year, for Peace Direct’s 10th anniversary, I’m going to really commit to it. And try to get some of my actor friends involved as well.” Through the campaign, Chipo will be highlighting that poverty is a product of war and instability, and peace is essential for development. She will also be raising much needed funding for Peace Direct projects, such as Envision in Zimbabwe.
Chipo is the daughter of Fay Chung, co-founder of Peace Direct’s partner, Envision. She moved to Zimbabwe at the age of three, after her first years were spent in a Mozambican refugee camp in the war zone that was the Zimbabwean liberation struggle. When the war was over, Chipo describes growing up in Zimbabwe when the country was at its most idyllic. Now in a much more difficult political climate, Envision Zimbabwe – founded by women from across the political divide – works with traditional leaders and others, training them to deal with conflict without resorting to violence. Such work is vital for a country where conflict and poverty are widespread peace is key to development.
Why not take the Live Below the Line challenge too?