About a month ago, my twelve year old daughter came running into my bedroom saying, “Mum! Mum! Have you heard about the Syrian refugees??” I looked at her face – pale, wide-eyed – and asked her, “What have you seen?”

She had seen an ad on Youtube and whatever was in it, it left her teary and shaken. As we talked it through, she kept asking me one question: Why didn’t you tell me?

In this world of bombs and beheadings, terror attacks, and attacks on women, on Muslims, on the LGBTQI community, how do we as parents know what to share with our children? And when?

I don’t have the answer. I know that I want my children to be compassionate people, to be advocates for those without voices, to be changemakers. I know that I don’t want them to live in a bubble. But I also don’t want them to be frightened about things they can’t control.

My daughter and I talked for a long time. I shared with her how upset I am about the Syrian refugee crisis and told her that her dad and I give money every month to help. She asked if helping also helped the sad feeling and I said it did; that sometimes doing something, even a small thing, can make you feel less powerless. We talked about setting aside some money every week and once it reaches $100, getting together as a family to decide where we want to donate it.

In the way of twelve year olds, the conversation gradually shifted from Syrian refugees to what’s been happening with her at school, to a boy she kind of likes, to the gymnastics classes she wants to start taking. Even though it’s been a few weeks since that night, I’ve stowed that memory away in my mind, and I’ve had my eyes open, looking for an opportunity for her do something to help.

Enter the Ration Challenge! This is a one week challenge held from 18-25 June, where participants eat the same food rations a Syrian refugee would receive to raise awareness and money. There’s not a lot of food at play here, in fact when I first saw the picture, I thought it was the rations for a DAY not a week!

After reading through the rules and requirements, I showed the short video on the website to my daughter. She was keen straight away. Then my husband decided to join her for support and Team Addison was born. I’m exceptionally proud of both of them, especially my food-loving girl, who isn’t even that keen on lentils and beans. This is why donations before the challenge begins are so important – once you reach donation goals, you get rewards in the form of food (Jemima will have her eyes on the 50g of sugar once she gets to $400!)

If, like us, you’ve been moved by the plight of the Syrian refugees and would like to raise money, why not join the thousands of others in the 2017 Ration Challenge here.

Or if you’d like to support my daughter and husband in their challenge, you can do so here. No donation is too small.

Thank you for your kindness!

Also….

If you want to join the challenge, make you sure read the requirements including the health and safety information. People under 18 can join, but it needs to be under the watchful eye of a parent.