Bowral High School students and staff have taken part in the Ration Challenge, a challenge that encourages people to raise funds by living on the same rations as Syrian refugees for a week.

About 18 students took part in the challenge, including several year 10 students and teachers.

The school raised $3,599.57 through the challenge, which was higher than its initial target of $2000.

The money raised will provide food, medicine and education for refugees, and support other vulnerable communities around the world.

The students lived on 420 grams of rice, 170 grams of lentils, 85 grams of chickpeas, a tin of sardines, a tin of red kidney beans and 300ml of vegetable oil for a week.

Students could also add 400 grams of flour and 400 grams of rice.

Many of the students who took part were in leadership roles at the school, and were looking for a new challenge.

The challenge is typically conducted during refugee week, however the school started and finished the challenge early.

Bowral High School deputy principal John Staats said the challenge taught students a lesson in perspective.

“The big perspective was we did it for a week, what if you had to do one year, two year, three while you wait for situation to change in your own country?” he said.

“My personal motto is we create the future if we make young people good citizens.

“The idea is if you can think locally and act globally, you’ll create a much better world.”

The students received a video message from Act for Peace co-founder Karen McGrath, who has been in Jordan in the Middle East.

“I want to say a massive thank you to all of you at Bowral High for taking on the challenge,” she said.

“You’re making an incredible difference to the lives of refugees.”