Stephen Walker, of Mawson, watches his sons Thomas Adams-Walker and Benton Adams-Walker practise juggling. Photo: Jeffrey Chan

For most parents the costs of raising children and dealing with the mortgage, household bills and groceries, make it hard to give to charity on a regular basis, but Canberra father of two Stephen Walker, is proving it can be done.

For more than a year now Mr Walker, a member of the international society Giving What We Can, has given 10 per cent of his income to charity.

At today's TEDx event he will encourage other Canberrans to join him in the fight against global poverty. TEDx is a global program of events aiming to provide stimulating ideas to audiences.

''I'll be throwing down the gauntlet, challenging people to give 10 per cent of their income or as much as they can, to charities which make a real difference,'' Mr Walker said.

After 24 years working in the public sector, Mr Walker found that when he started his own business last year, he had more time to spend with his family, the community and more time to make a change.

For Mr Walker and his wife Sue Adams, who also runs her own business, choosing to donate was not a sacrifice, but a conscious decision.

''We looked at what we were earning and what we needed to survive and saw a difference between the two.''

Mr Walker said since beginning donations, his family's lifestyle hasn't changed much. ''It is just something we budget for really. If anything it's more exciting, figuring out what charity we are going to give to next.''

He said his family gets a real sense of achievement when they hear about the difference their money is making. ''My two sons get so excited about it. They're both circus trained so sometimes they go busking, so they can raise more funding for causes they are passionate about.''

Mr Walker will use the TEDx theme of ''an optimistic challenge'', to launch the Canberra chapter of Giving What We Can, which will give Canberrans a channel to find effective charities to donate to.

''As it is, a lot of Canberrans give to charity and while not everyone can give 10 per cent of their income, it's important that when they do donate, they give to really effective charities so they can make the greatest possible difference.''

Mr Walker said that in recent times his own family has been donating to charities which provide support for teachers and education for girls.

Mr Walker said with 10 per cent of their yearly income, average Canberra wage earners could provide about 1400 children with 10 years of protection from parasitic worms or provide 1400 insecticide-treated bed nets. ''By giving anything they have to spare, Canberrans can make a real difference.''

For more information visit:

www.givingwhatwecan.org/canberra/