For the past week Matthew Caughley has taken up the Act for Peace Ration Challenge, eating the same food rations as a Syrian refugee.
The Act for Peace Ration Challenge is organised to create awareness and through sponsorship, bring emergency food, hygiene kits and lifesaving support to the people that need it most.
After hearing about a mate joining the challenge, the Bundaberg Regional Council Civil Works Operations Engineer thought it would be a good way to step into someone else’s shoes and give a closer perspective of what refugees are going through.
“The purpose of the challenge really grabbed my attention,” Matthew said.
“With a lot of people complaining about what we are going through with COVID-19, I thought doing this challenge would be a great way for people to get some perspective on how lucky we really are.
“So many of us think we’ve got it bad because we’ve had to live with restrictions but at least we’ve still got enough food to eat.”
Throughout the challenge from the 13 – 19 September, Matthew had to create the week’s meals from only 400g kidney beans, 125g sardines, 1920g rice, 170g lentils, 400g flour, and 85g chickpeas with a 300ml bottle of oil.
“By day five most of the food was gone and I was feeling pretty bad,” he said.
“I was so hungry and imagined what it would be like if my children were going through this.
“It must be so hard for these refugees to watch their children going hungry.”
As tough as this was, Matthew said he would do it all again and encourages others to do the same.
So far, he’s raised $1100 and fundraising is still open. Should anyone wish to make a donation head to: actforpeace.rationchallenge.org.au/matthew-caughley
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