Students and staff at St John Paul II College, Nicholls, recently took part in the Act for Peace Ration Challenge, eating the same rations as refugees for five days (or three days for Years 7-9 students). In just over three weeks, the school raised an incredible $9800, with funds going towards education, food and healthcare for refugees overseas.

Participants received a food kit containing small portions of food items such as kidney beans, chickpeas, rice and canned fish. Throughout the challenge, these were the only items that they were able to eat, providing them with insight into the difficulties faced by refugees on a daily basis.

Organising teacher, Alyssa Markmann said that the students were excited by the opportunity to help during uncertain times. “Refugees are not only facing the usual dangers this year, such as not knowing where they will live and how they will survive until they are granted a visa, but have to contend with the COVID-19 pandemic as well.”

“As we have not had many chances to engage in social justice this year, I felt it was incredibly important to raise money for this cause,” said Alyssa.

Zara Pathan in Year 7 said that while she found the experiencing enlightening, it was certainly a challenge. “I didn’t feel hungry on the first day, but by the third I was so tired. They were the longest three days of my life, but I will definitely support refugees more from now on,” she said.

“The Ration Challenge for me was very tough but empowering in a sense,” said Year 9 student Ashish Nair. “This experience has become very sentimental to me after experiencing the daily meals of refugees and how they manage to survive on such little food.”

Paris Morris in Year 9 thought that the experience was incredibly rewarding. “It gave me excellent insight into the daily struggles of refugees as I was able to empathise with people in our world who are most vulnerable,” she said.

Congratulations on a fantastic effort!