Are you up for the Act for Peace Ration Challenge?
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Could you spend a week eating only small portions of rice, lentils, chickpeas, sardines and kidney beans?
For many refugees and displaced peoples around the world, this is their everyday food – and in very limited quantities at that.
Canberran Migrant Agent Bronwyn Huntley knows firsthand the challenges of such limited food, having undertaken the Act For Peace Ration Challenge for two years in a row.
We caught up with her to discuss why she’s so passionate about this cause, what the challenge involves, and how you can get involved.
TELL US HOW YOU FOUND YOUR PASSION FOR HELPING OTHERS?
I have always looked up to my parents who have been involved in community groups since I was a kid and continue to do so now.
I have continued the journey as Cub Leader, Country Fire Authority Firefighter and Junior Leader; Board Secretary of a Not-For-Profit Childcare Centre; Coordinator of the town’s annual fair and numerous positions on school committees in Canberra and Melbourne. Oh and I did the 40-hour famine as a kid!
I began my career as a Migration Agent in August 2016.
Since that time I have: wanted to vomit as those that have escaped civil war tell me their stories of the torture they have experienced; jumped around like a crazy woman succeeding where some didn’t think I would; celebrate visa grants where couples and or families can live together in Australia and seen businesses grow because we have been able to assist them to employ skills that are not available locally.
HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT THE ACT FOR PEACE RATION CHALLENGE?
I was sent the link for Act for Peace’s Ration Challenge three years ago.
Act for Peace is an international aid and development charity. They promote safety, justice and dignity in communicates threatened by conflict and disaster.
The Ration Challenge began with co-founders Kaz McGrath and Ben Littlejohn in 2014 after they visited a refugee camp on the Thai-Myanmar border.
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It was Kaz and Ben’s belief that in order for people to really understand what refugees go through you needed to experience a small part of their life. The simple way to do this was to live on the same rations as those provided to refugees in camps.
They went from 100 people joining them in 2014 to 36,000 participants this year from around the world. Collectively $10 million has been raised to support refugees over this time [through participation in the Ration Challenge].
WHAT DOES THE MONEY GO TO?
There are over 11 million Syrian refugees that have been displaced because of war. The money raised by the ration challenge helps provide ration packs, hygiene kits (including dignity kits for women during their periods), medical assistance, education forums for children and psychosocial support.
The support is provided to refugees located in Jordan, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, Thailand/Myanmar border, Gaza, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Zimbabwe.
When I realised that what I spend weekly on groceries for my family (approx. $274) will actually provide food for a year for a single refugee – eating simply for one week and raising funds was the least I could do to assist those less fortunate than me.
HOW DO YOU ‘DO’ THE CHALLENGE?
In 2016 we were a group of four and shared our spices – that definitely made the rice tastier. But after that year I thought it was important that I commit to doing this every year.
This is my industry and I have met some of these people. In fact, one of our social group friends lived this life on their journey to Australia. I haven’t experienced torture or hardship – no Vegemite in the cupboard at midnight for a cheese and Vegemite sandwich is a first world problem.
Last year and this year my boss has joined me on the journey. It’s definitely easier during the day when you have someone else to share the meal.
Our seven days consists of 1.9kg (uncooked) rice; 400g flour, 170g lentils, 85g dried chickpeas, 125g tinned sardines, 400g tinned kidney beans and 300ml vegetable oil.
No coffee, tea, milk, sugar, alcohol and the boss’ go-to snack –lollies. This year we earned 120g of protein (yum salami – 1 slice a day), salt, pepper, chilli flakes and 170g of a vegetable (baby spinach leaves).
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The monotony of the same food day in and day out definitely gets to you by day five and six. But that means I only have another 24 – 48 hours when I can grab that Vegemite sandwich when I want.
And that’s what you realise when you get to the end – it does end for us participants, but it doesn’t end for refugees in camps around the world.
They don’t get to just walk away – they have to continue to survive on limited rations in environments that can be exceptionally dangerous.
WHY SHOULD PEOPLE TAKE UP THE CHALLENGE?
I walk in a refugee’s shoes for a fraction of their life because I can still go home to a warm secure home, comfortable bed and amenities that are short steps away.
I urge anyone to take this challenge on – you will raise funds for a very worthy cause and hopefully truly appreciate that the life of a refugee is not one anyone should have to experience.
You can go to this link to find out more about the Ration Challenge – I’ll share rice with you next year.
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