ST Mary MacKillop College students are putting their money where their mouths are to highlight the plight of starving refugees.
Students, families and staff are this week taking part in the annual five-day Ration Challenge, in the lead-up to World Refugee Day on Sunday.
The 11 students, one family and five staff members in the school team must live off the food that is provided in the box of rations in order to raise the funds.
There are also two students who are doing the challenge as individuals.
Students Grace Scott, Toni Mia Scalora and Otto Conlan said the school student forum decided to take up the challenge as it aligned with the college values and Catholic social teaching.
“Students recognise the level of privilege they have compared to others and the responsibility to our neighbours,” Grace said.
“We see this challenge as an opportunity to raise awareness for the hardship faced by millions of refugees and displaced people across the globe.
“Aside from raising awareness and collecting much needed donations, students also expect to experience a strong emotional impact as part of the challenge.
“We are lucky to have such motivated and socially conscious students who, above all, are focused on having a positive impact on the world and their community, no matter how big or small.”
As part of the challenge, the group on Wednesday held a solidarity meal at the school, where the school community shared a simple lunch and donated to the team.
The food packs contained the rations of a Syrian refugee living in a camp in Jordan.
A seven-day pack includes 1.92kg of rice, 400g of flour, 170g of lentils, 85g of dried chickpeas, 120g of sardines (or tofu), 400g of tinned kidney beans and 300ml of vegetable oil.
Participants were also able to unlock food rewards for spreading the word of the challenge, asking people to sponsor them, and raising money targets.
These food rewards could include spices, salt, tea bags and small rations of fruit and vegetables.
Toni Mia said she and her peers were nervous for the challenge, but also appreciative of being able to do something practical.
“Participating in this challenge will really put everything into perspective for students and open their eyes to experiences of refugees every day,” she said.
“The fact that this is what people in our world are limited to each day really puts our lives into perspective.
“Refugees are just like us, only they have been forced into a terrible situation.
“They want the same things any of us do: safety, dignity, and the ability to rebuild their lives.”
The Ration Challenge was established in 2014, while the school program was launched in 2018. Since then, students and teachers have raised more than $1 million.
The money raised from the Ration Challenge will help provide emergency food, healthcare and life-saving support for the people who need it most.
Support the Swan Hill team at schools.rationchallenge.org.au
What your funds can do to help refugees:
* $220 can fund a referral to a medical centre for 10 refugees, enabling them to access life-saving treatment
* $600 can provide Covid kits for 10 refugees, containing essential hygiene items to help protect their families against the spread of Covid, including face masks, soap and hand sanitiser
* $1872 can provide food rations for a refugee family for an entire year
