HOSTING A REFUGEE RATION MEAL

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1 HOSTING A REFUGEE RATION MEAL The international aid agency of the National Council of Churches in Australia ABN REFUGEE MEAL

HOSTING A MEAL OF REFUGEE RATIONS Ben Littlejohn/Act for Peace Hosting a refugee ration meal is a great way to bring together friends, family or members of the community to experience a small part of

By coming together for a meal of basic refugees rations and helping guests put themselves in the shoes of just one refugee, for just one meal, you ll be helping to communicate the suffering caused by

Holding a refugee ration meal is also a great way for people to make a tangible difference to the lives of refugees.

Whilst sharing a meal is only one tiny glimpse of what life as a refugee is life, it is a great opportunity to engage with friends and family to have meaningful discussion, be thankful for what we

2 HOSTING A MEAL OF REFUGEE RATIONS Ben Littlejohn/Act for Peace Hosting a refugee ration meal is a great way to bring together friends, family or members of the community to experience a small part of the refugee struggle. By coming together for a meal of basic refugees rations and helping guests put themselves in the shoes of just one refugee, for just one meal, you ll be helping to communicate the suffering caused by the refugee crisis on a human level. On a level we, and those around us, can understand. Holding a refugee ration meal is also a great way for people to make a tangible difference to the lives of refugees. By asking your guests to make a donation after reflecting on their meal together you ll be making an even bigger difference to the lives of refugees. Whilst sharing a meal is only one tiny glimpse of what life as a refugee is life, it is a great opportunity to engage with friends and family to have meaningful discussion, be thankful for what we have and provide tangible support to refugees around the world. Use our simple steps on the pages that follow to make the most of your refugee meal and amplify your impact for refugees. Rations for a family of six for an entire month. Reflection to share with your GUESTS: Can you imagine what it means to be dependent on food aid for survival? Has anyone in the group experienced living on rations or has been told stories from family members about living on rations, for example during World War II? Can you imagine explain to your children why there is no supermarket anymore and why you don t have any money? How do you think you would cope? 1. PLAN AHEAD Cooking a menu of refugee rations is easy to organise and no elaborate cooking is needed. However to ensure your event goes well we advise to plan in advance so things go smoothly on the day. Set a date and time: Aim to host your meal during Refugee Week (18-24). You could host a lunch or dinner on either a Sunday after church (June 18 or 25) or an evening meal during the week (World Refugee Day on Tuesday June 20th is a popular choice). Remember, if those dates don t work for you, you can pick another day that suits your calendar! Choose a venue: Pick somewhere in your community big enough to host all guests comfortably. This could be your home, workplace, church, school, community centre or even a local park. 2 ACT FOR PEACE

2. INVITE GUESTS As soon as you ve confirmed the details above, send out an event invite to your chosen guests. Share early: Let your guests know the meal is coming up.

Share Socially: Use Facebook and create an event and spread the event across other social networking sites. Share widely: Don t hesitate to invite family, friends and people from your local 3.

Holding a meal of refugee rations is a great way to reflect on the issues impacting refugees around the world as well as raise vital funds to support them.

3 2. INVITE GUESTS As soon as you ve confirmed the details above, send out an event invite to your chosen guests. Share early: Let your guests know the meal is coming up. When you have decided the time and date tell them immediately. community. Broaden your connections by sending personalized s and send notices to other community members. Share Socially: Use Facebook and create an event and spread the event across other social networking sites. Share widely: Don t hesitate to invite family, friends and people from your local 3. RAISE MONEY & AWARENESS Plan your meal/event in a way that means guests have the chance to learn, engage and make a tangible difference to the lives of refugees. Holding a meal of refugee rations is a great way to reflect on the issues impacting refugees around the world as well as raise vital funds to support them. On the day of your event include activities or discussion points to engage your guests. Once you have welcomed everyone, spend some time sharing knowledge about why people are here talk to them about the terrible situation facing people fleeing Syria and Iraq and what people can do to help. We re used to seeing news headlines full of statistics about the Syrian conflict. By sharing knowledge and stories, you can communicate the suffering caused by the crisis at a human level and give your guests a better understanding of how their gifts can make a difference, and why they are urgently needed. You might choose to describe desperate need for food in the camps, and how there isn t enough money to give a food ration pack to everyone that needs one. This will help your guests better understand the meaning behind sharing a simple meal based off rice and lentils, the same ingredients as in a refugee ration pack. To raise awareness during your meal you could: 1) Leave a discussion question on each person s seat at the start of the meal and encourage them to discuss it with others throughout the night. 2) Play some of the Act for Peace videos (available on Facebook and YouTube) to your guests. 3) Run a world issues trivia game. To ensure you raise as much as possible to support refugees around the world you could: 1) Remind guests at the start of meal why you have all come together. 2) Give guests an easy way to make a donation (ths could be a bowl in the middle of the table or a donation fee on entry). 3) Print off examples off how the money will help (see page 7). REFUGEE MEAL

4. PREPARE A MEAL OF RATIONS By sharing a meal of rice and lentils, the same ingredients refugees

food and so things aren t rushed on the day.

options. Remember that we want you to do what makes you feel comfortable.

coming together to raise funds and awareness for refugees.

If you are holding a refugee meal whilst taking part in the Ration Challenge there is a few important

Recipes for your Refugee Meal 3- You can treat guests to extra ingredients or share your rewards with

4 4. PREPARE A MEAL OF RATIONS By sharing a meal of rice and lentils, the same ingredients refugees receive in their ration pack, you and your guests will experience just a small glimpse of what refugee life is like. With the menu based on the rations refugees receive, it is very easy to organise the meal and no elaborate cooking is needed. However, we advise that you prepare for the meal in advance to ensure you have the correct quantity of food and so things aren t rushed on the day. Use one of the two recipes included here OR send us an or give us a call to discuss other recipe options. Remember that we want you to do what makes you feel comfortable. The most important thing about the meal is not the exact food you cook, but the reason why you are coming together to raise funds and awareness for refugees. Are you holding a Refugee meal whilst taking the Ration Challenge? If you are holding a refugee meal whilst taking part in the Ration Challenge there is a few important things to remember: 1- You can prepare as much food as you want for your guests, you don t need to use your own rations. 2- Make sure you measure how much you eat on the night and take this away from your week s rations Recipes for your Refugee Meal 3- You can treat guests to extra ingredients or share your rewards with them, but make sure you don t bend any of the rules. Your Ration Challenge rules still apply! recipe 1 MAYA s LENTIL SOUP Wash the lentils in water before starting to cook. Bring water to the boil. Add lentils Add a spice of your choice(refugees use the chicken stock in their ration packs to flavour their meals). Cook for half an hour on a high temperature. Quantity: For 10 people: 2 cups (400g) lentils For 20 people: 4 cups (800g) lentils For 50 people: 10 cups (2kg) lentils Stir a number of times to ensure nothing sticks to the bottom. Enjoy. 4 ACT FOR PEACE

recipe 2 Fatima s Rice and Lentil (Mushid Dera) Wash the lentils in water before starting to cook Bring water to the boil. Add lentils.

Wash in warm water and then add to the lentils For 10 people: 2 cups (400g) of lentils and 2.

chicken stock in their ration packs to flavour their meals) Quantity: For 50 people: 10 cups (2kg) of lentils and 12.5 (2.

Ben Littlejohn/Act for Peace Only a glimpse While the ingredients in the recipes are based directly on the ration packs distributed by Act for Peace in Jordan, this

circumstances are different, and for most, living on rations is just one part of being a refugee.

Most people won t know how long they ll be stuck living like this, and will wonder whether they ll ever get to go home (globally, the average time spent in a

FOOD COUP ON Pro d uct: Weig ht re de Taking part in a Refugee Meal (and the Ration Challenge won t give us any understanding of what these other things feel like.

1 6 this small act of solidarity will give us a deeper understanding of their struggle, and means the world to No. 2765 8 them.

5 recipe 2 Fatima s Rice and Lentil (Mushid Dera) Wash the lentils in water before starting to cook Bring water to the boil. Add lentils. Cook for 15 minutes on a high temperature. Soak the rice for half an hour in warm water. Wash in warm water and then add to the lentils For 10 people: 2 cups (400g) of lentils and 2.5 cups (500g) of rice For 20 people: 4 cups (800g) of lentils and 5 cups (1kg) of rice HOW TO HOLD YOUR REFUGEE MEAL Add a spice of your choice(refugees use the chicken stock in their ration packs to flavour their meals) Quantity: For 50 people: 10 cups (2kg) of lentils and 12.5 (2.5kg) cups of rice Add more water if required. The rice will take fifteen minutes to cook. Ben Littlejohn/Act for Peace Only a glimpse While the ingredients in the recipes are based directly on the ration packs distributed by Act for Peace in Jordan, this is only a glimpse into what refugee life is like. Every refugee s Syrian refugees cook with very basic ingredients. Vegetables are often a luxury. circumstances are different, and for most, living on rations is just one part of being a refugee. People may be struggling to cope with the trauma of what they ve experienced. They may not know where their family is, or whether they re even alive. Most people won t know how long they ll be stuck living like this, and will wonder whether they ll ever get to go home (globally, the average time spent in a refugee camp is 17 years). FOOD COUP ON Pro d uct: Weig ht re de Taking part in a Refugee Meal (and the Ration Challenge won t give us any understanding of what these other things feel like. But emab le: ri ce 1. 5 k g Expi ry d ate : this small act of solidarity will give us a deeper understanding of their struggle, and means the world to No them. And the money you raise will be used as soon as received to provide emergency food rations, psychological support, lifesaving medical care and education to help give refugees the strength they need to cope. Reflection to share with your GUESTS: Please note: when preparing food, please ensure you comply with all relevant Commonwealth, State or Territory food safety / hygiene legislation. It has become extremely rare in our society to live on such frugal meals over a long period of time. Would anyone like to share any thoughts they have on how we eat and behave in our society of abundance? Or how they feel having so little to eat during that one meal? How does food play a role in sharing and being generous with our fellow companions? Has anyone within the audience ever experienced hunger? What might we all do to limit food waste? REFUGEE MEAL

5. RETURN YOUR GIFTS By hosting a refugee ration meal with friends, family or members of the community you re providing vital support to refugees and displaced

If you re a school/church or organisation that have received a kit, now is a good time to hand out giving envelopes.

Importantly, it will also show refugees that there are people in this world that still care about them.

Schools: Ask guests of your event to make a cash donation or donate to your school s team fundraising page.

Remind your guests the purpose of why you are coming together to share a meal and share with them examples of how far their gifts can go by reading out the items

Ben Littlejohn/Act for Peace If you are a school or church with giving envelopes, makes sure you place them directly into the hands of your guests and explain to

6 5. RETURN YOUR GIFTS By hosting a refugee ration meal with friends, family or members of the community you re providing vital support to refugees and displaced people around the world. After you have shared knowledge and food with your guests, ask them to reflect on their experience. If you re a school/church or organisation that have received a kit, now is a good time to hand out giving envelopes. For individuals holding events you can encourage your guests to place a donation in a bowl in the middle of the table or into an envelope to leave in a designated place. The money you and your guests raise during your refugee meal will help provide refugees with the urgently needed food, medicine and support they need to survive. Importantly, it will also show refugees that there are people in this world that still care about them. COLLECTING GIFTS Ration Challenge participants: Ask your guests to make a cash donation on the night or hand out small cards with a link to your fundraising page. Schools: Ask guests of your event to make a cash donation or donate to your school s team fundraising page. Churches & Organisations: Use the giving envelopes provided and complete the instructions provided in your Refugee Week kit. Remind your guests the purpose of why you are coming together to share a meal and share with them examples of how far their gifts can go by reading out the items on the right hand side of this page. Ben Littlejohn/Act for Peace If you are a school or church with giving envelopes, makes sure you place them directly into the hands of your guests and explain to them how to use them. Dr Albjour uses his day off to provide diagnosis and treatment for refugees in Jordan. 6 ACT FOR PEACE AFTER YOUR EVENT- THANK YOUR GUESTS! After you hold your refugee fundraising meal, don t forget to show your appreciation to guests who attended by saying thank you. A little appreciaton goes a long way and will make your guests feel great about attending and helping make a difference. You could send them each a personalised thank you note (or /fb message) and let them know how much you raised on the night and the difference that will make for refugees. It s important to show everyone how every little bit they contribute counts!

HOSTING A MEAL will provide rations, medicine and

rations (the same food you ll be eating during your

where kids can learn life-skills, mix with other

community medical day for persecuted Iraqi

7 HOSTING A MEAL will provide rations, medicine and life-saving $576 Emergency food rations $576 Food rations (the same food you ll be eating during your refugee meal) for two Syrian refugees for an entire year, ensuring they have enough to eat. $960 Psychological support $960 a child s forum, where kids can learn life-skills, mix with other children, improve their confidence, and start to come to terms with their trauma. $6,915 Life-saving medical care $6,915 Can provide a community medical day for persecuted Iraqi Christians who have fled to Jordan, giving them access to lifesaving specialist care. REFUGEE MEAL

Ben Littlejohn/Act for Peace To refugees a donation isn t just about the fact they may get rice every week.

Your donation is saying to refugees, there are people in the world that still care about you.

FREECALL 1800 025 101 EMAIL info@actforpeace.org.

8 Ben Littlejohn/Act for Peace To refugees a donation isn t just about the fact they may get rice every week. It s the fact that they know people out there still care about them. Your donation is saying to refugees, there are people in the world that still care about you. Sally Thompson MBE, Executive Director of Act for Peace s partner in Thailand, The Border Consortium. FREECALL info@actforpeace.org.au web actforpeace.rationchallenge.org.au The international aid agency of the National Council of Churches in Australia Locked Bag Q199, QUEEN VICTORIA BUILDING, NSW 1230, Australia. ABN ACT FOR PEACE

Questions to consider and decide in planning

REFUGEE CAMPS Questions to consider and decide in planning Dates: We suggest two nights so that the students can be challenged and still enjoy themselves, but one afternoon/night/morning will work if that