The challenge has participants live on the same food supplies given to refugees through international aid. This included 1.37kg of rice, 120g of lentils, 60g of dried chickpeas, one tin of kidney beans, one tine of sardines, 285g of flour and 215ml of oil for five days.
St Joseph’s staff and students tried the challenge for five days of National Refugee Week, which ran from the June 16 to 22, and it proved to be a very difficult few days.
“I didn’t fully make the five days because it was so challenging,” student Kajini Karunanayake said.
“It was definitely eye-opening, understanding what it’s like to live, not even five days, but who knows how long.
“I personally found it was really hard to go about your daily tasks.”
The experience gave participants a real insight into how tough life is for refugees, especially compared to the food security they enjoy daily.
“It was really challenging,” teacher Matt Butler said.
“Waking up and having that rice for breakfast or skipping breakfast was really, really grim.
“(You) realise how accessible food is to us all the time.
“It was extremely tough. Same thing (as Kaijini), I think I got to four days.”
St Joseph’s had a strong contingent of participants, with 19 people joining the challenge.
During their five days, they still had to attend school and work, which was tough with their dwindling energy.
“I found that concentrating at school was really difficult,” Kajini said.
“It led me to wonder, people in this situation ... struggle to get out of it because they don’t have the resources.”
Mr Butler’s first meal post-ration pack was a chicken parmigiana, while Kajini enjoyed some McDonald’s.
Despite the difficulty, St Joseph’s staff and students recommend others take on the challenge to better understand the struggles faced by many in our world.
“I think someone’s definitely gotta have a go and put yourself outside of your comfort zone,” Mr Butler said.
“Put yourself in someone else’s shoes and realise that people in our world, like refugees and asylum seekers, are really doing it tough.
“We’re so lucky — that’s probably the biggest thing.”
During National Refugee Week, St Joseph’s also raised money for the Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project.
The students who participated in the Ration Challenge included Grace Riddell, Moana Broughton, Abbey Hamilton, Violet Thomas, Cody Walker, Chloe Power, Imogen Ross, and Kajini Karunanayake.
Staff members who joined the challenge were Rebecca Hof, Abbey Tustain, Ruth Phillips, Peter Phillips, Dewan Gounder, Lee Pethybridge, Judi Thomson, Mitch Berg, Gavin Deller, David Armfield and Matthew Butler.
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