Students and teachers living in Katherine are being invited to eat like a refugee during Refugee Week (June 16-23), get sponsored and raise much-needed funds to help children and families threatened by conflict and disaster around the world.
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The Ration Challenge is a powerful and thought-provoking fundraising initiative that empowers Australian students to stand in solidarity with children who are living as refugees in other countries.
Every student registered by their teacher will receive a ration pack in the mail, containing the same rations, in the same quantities, as those distributed to Syrian refugees in camps in Jordan - just a small amount of rice, beans, chickpeas, lentils, fish, oil and flour.
"By eating what a refugee eats, children are stepping into the shoes of another person in another country, and experiencing just one of the many struggles that refugees face on a daily basis," said Karen McGrath, co-founder of Act for Peace, the humanitarian aid agency that initiated the Challenge.
The Ration Challenge was established in 2014 and since then has captured the hearts and minds of more than 40,000 people who have signed up to take part. 92 Australian schools signed up for the schools program when it piloted for the first time last year, and teachers and students raised more than $315,000.
"We received such a great response from schools last year, which showed that young Australians are prepared to do what it takes to help others in their time of need. This year we are hoping even more schools will come on board to continue to show refugees that we stand with them," said Karen.
School teacher, Chris Goodman said, "The Ration Challenge is a wonderful way for children to learn about the wider world, not just the bubble they may be living in their own suburb or community. It pushes kids out of their comfort zone and it also encourages them to interact with other students and teachers and share their experiences. It is incredibly powerful and rewarding on many levels and also brings together a real sense of community - something which is so important in these days of social media which, ironically can be quite isolating for young people."
Student, Jemima, says: "The Ration Challenge is a wake-up call - it's one small thing you can do that can help you widen your perspective and it can help create meaningful conversations with your parents, friends, grandparents and community."
The money raised from the Ration Challenge will go towards helping refugees to receive the food, medicine and support they need to re-build their lives, and support other conflict and disaster affected families around the world.
