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Forster mum Sarah Wilkinson is hungry, so very hungry.
Her body is protesting a radical change to her diet, her head hurts, she feels sick, absent-minded and lethargic.
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It is a choice, it is hard and Sarah is thankful there is an end to her diet of sardines, rice, lentils, chick peas, kidney beans and flour.
It is World Refugee Week and Sarah is taking part in the Act for Peace Ration Challenge. Her challenge, which began on June 18 and finishes on June 24, is to eat the same food as a Syrian refugee living in a camp in Jordan.
Sarah’s suffering will end on June 25 and she hopes the Great Lakes community will back her bid to raise funds and awareness of the millions of refugees in crisis. Her goal is $2500 and donations over close to $1400.
Sarah believes “the way Australia treats refugees is appalling.”
It’s a human right for someone to seek safety. I have always wanted to make a stand but felt so helpless in making an impact. The ration challenge is only a small glimpse of a life as a Syrian refugee, it’s an act of solidarity, to show them we do care and will give me a greater understanding of their struggle.
- Sarah Wilkinson
Sarah is a mother and it nurtures her empathy for the women and children in Syria.
“Often when I lay in bed after putting the kids down to sleep I think about a mother in Syria. While I tuck them into bed and ease any worries they may have, I think of her and the fact that she can’t necessarily guarantee her children will be safe and wake up in the morning,” Sarah said.
“I know my children’s bellies will never go empty and if they aren’t quite full I’ll give them the rest of my dinner, knowing there is plenty more food in the cupboard. While her belly is empty because gave her children part of her rations to stop their crying.
“The little boy washing up on the beach in Turkey was a huge moment for me. As a mother my heart broke as I knew that the mother who chose to put her little boy on that boat to flee their war torn country was making that choice as it was better than staying at home.
“I can’t imagine having to make that decision. If what I’m doing can make a difference to even one Syrian refugee family and give some insight to my little family then it’s been worthwhile.”
Sarah’s husband, Craig, and her children Thomas, four, and one-year-old Isabelle, are supportive as she struggles to cope with the quantity and type of food.
“I was shocked to see how small the box was and how little variety there was - I opened it with my family and they couldn’t believe it either.
“It really hit home that people have to feed their families on such a small amount of food.
“Craig wanted to do it with me however we decided having two parents out with rice brain, yes, apparently it’s an actual thing, may be a bad idea.
“The first day was so eye opening as I felt a lot worse than I anticipated. I had a bad headache from coffee withdrawals, which I expected. I resisted having Panadol as I didn’t think a Syrian refugee would have access to these. What I didn’t expect was the sick feeling in my belly and lack of energy. The rice just sat in my gut like a lump of glue. I just feel very absent-minded and I’m having trouble concentrating. I work for MidCoast Council in community engagement so hopefully they will be understanding!
“On World Refugee Day we ate as a refugee family. It was a great little motivator for me and a good way for them to get some insight. One of the reasons I chose to do this challenge was to show my family what people on the other side of the world are experiencing. It’s so easy to take for granted the lifestyle we have and in order for change to occur people need to act.”
To act to support Sarah visit her ‘Act for Peace Ration Challenge’ page at https://actforpeace.rationchallenge.org.au/fundraisers/sarahwilkinson