EmptyBowl

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  Step into a world where hunger isn’t a choice — it’s a daily reality.

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  You have just $1.90 for the day. Choose wisely — every grain you add could mean another you lose later.

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  Watch your energy fade as your plate empties. Adjust your meals — survival isn’t just math, it’s sacrifice.

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  Reality hits hard — you made it through the day, but not without hunger.

Inspiration

We’ve all felt hunger — but never the kind that gnaws at you every day. 700 million people live on less than $1.90, making impossible choices between food, shelter, and survival. EmptyBowl was created to make people feel that reality — not through statistics, but through struggle.

What it does

EmptyBowl isn’t a game — it’s a mirror. You start the day with $1.90 and must plan breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Every choice drains your budget and your hope. By nightfall, you realize that even survival comes at a cost. Hunger isn’t just about food — it’s about dignity, exhaustion, and the silent pain of going to bed empty.

How I built it

Built with React, HTML/CSS, and a handful of sleepless hours, EmptyBowl uses simple interactivity to tell a heavy story. Each meal choice deducts from your shared budget, revealing how scarcity shapes every decision. The simplicity is deliberate — so the message stays louder than the code.

Challenges I ran into

It’s easy to build apps that entertain. It’s hard to build one that hurts — just enough to make you care. Finding the right balance between awareness and empathy was the hardest part. We didn’t want pity; we wanted understanding.

Accomplishments that I am proud of

I turned a number — $1.90 — into an emotion. When testers said they felt “guilty skipping dinner in the game,” I knew I had done something right. I am proud that EmptyBowl can make people stop, think, and perhaps, care a little more.

What I learned

That empathy is programmable. You don’t need advanced tech — just honesty. I have learned that awareness isn’t built with words, but with experience. And that sometimes, a quiet message can echo louder than any innovation.

What's next for EmptyBowl

I dream of taking EmptyBowl beyond screens — into classrooms, campaigns, and NGO drives. Next, I’ll add real-world hunger data, stories, and donation paths. Because the goal isn’t just to make people play — it’s to make them act.

Built With

• css3
• html5
• javascript
• lucidereact
• react.js
• vite