This year a group of Orange residents have pledged to take on the challenge of preparing and eating a meal that’s similar to the kind of one eaten by refugees from Jordan.

It’s hard to imagine what it would be like existing on a meagre dish of grains and a small amount of protein, but that’s the position many refugees find themselves in.

In fact, there are many refugees who go for days without eating at all.

Members of the Orange Social Justice Group, the Orange Uniting Church and the Orange Migrant Support Group have organised the Ration Challenge dinner to remind participants of the plight of others less fortunate than themselves.

Retired Uniting Church minister Betty Stroud is one of several people who have accepted the challenge of eating a three-course meal similar to the kind that’s routinely dished up to refugees all over the world.

Ms Stoud hopes the dinner will force people to think about what it’s like to be a refugee and prompt them to lending a helping hand in any way they can.

As a proud Christian she thinks it’s her duty to do all she can to help.

The highlight of the night will be presentations made by Sudanese refugees from the Nuba Mountains.

Orange is a multicultural city but there’s no point celebrating the various cultures of our people if we don’t truly understand who they are, and where they’ve come from.

There’s no denying Orange has had its share of race-related problems, but perhaps it’s time we all took time out of our busy schedules to walk in the shoes of people who have been forced to leave their homeland and endure so much.

Lets support the Ration Challenge. It’s not only a great event, it’s an important step in the right direction when it comes to achieving true multiculturalism.