Students at Chevalier College have rationed their meals to put themselves in the shoes of Syrian refugees.
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A team of 95 students and teachers from Chevalier College will eat the same rations as a Syrian refugee from June 17 to 24 as part of the Ration Challenge.
These rations include 420g of rice, 170g of lentils, 85g of dried chick peas, 125g of tinned sardines, 400g of tinned kidney beans and 300ml of vegetable oil.
While the students admitted the food had been bland and lacked flavour, they made the most of their limited resources.
They turned their rations into flatbread, made pancakes out of flour and water, rice pudding and some swapped their sardines for tuna.
Chevalier College student Ashanti Still said the challenge had put the situation of refugees into perspective.
“While it’s hard for us at the moment, we can see the end and know we can eat a proper meal in a few days,” Ashanti said.
“To think the refugees don’t know when the end of this is, is hard.”
It’s not just hungry stomachs that have left the students in a position of understanding – they discovered the impact these rations have on the way they function.
Student rugby player Patrick Connelly said he had noticed a loss of energy while on the field.
Other students found it harder to concentrate in class, especially with the challenge held in the exam period.
Student Tahlia McGee said the challenge enabled her to develop an awareness and compassion towards Syrian refugees.
“I’ve realised the luxuries we have,” Tahlia said.
“I wanted to grab an iced coffee from McDonald’s before school the other day and realised I couldn’t.”
It is the first year schools have been able to take part in this challenge.
Chevalier College teacher and social justice coordinator Leonie Stone said she was pleased to see so many young people get involved in the challenge.
“It was great to see so many students jump on board with enthusiasm,” Ms Stone said.
“It’s really enchanced their undertstanding,” she said.
“They’re thinking about it all the time and they won’t forget this.”
The team started third on the leader board and have since climbed to the top with almost $20,000 in donations.
Ms Stone said although it wasn’t about the competition, the students liked to know their efforts had been worthwhile.
These donations have come from friends and family of the college as well as spreading through social media and posters.
The money raised will go towards education, medicine, food and setting refugees up to be self-sustaining.
The students involved this year said they didn’t regret their involvement and would definitely do it again next year and encourage their friends to join them.
They said they were looking forward to being able to eat a proper meal again on Saturday.
Steaks and pancakes were on a lot of minds.
Sponsor Chevalier College at https://school.rationchallenge.org.au/chevalier-college.
