‘Grab and go’ challenge will put people in shoes of war-fleeing refugees at Ploughing Championships

Press release16 September 2024

Concern's challange at the ploughing championships asks people to step in the shoes of people like displaced Sudanese mother and child Dahabeeja (29) and Akhdar (10 months) from South Darfur

Concern's challenge at the ploughing championships asks people to step in the shoes of people like displaced Sudanese mother and child Dahabeeja (29) and Akhdar (10 months) from South Darfur

A ‘grab and go’ challenge will enable people at the National Ploughing Championships to experience what it is like to have to suddenly flee their home to save their lives.

The challenge by the humanitarian aid organisation Concern Worldwide will give participants 20 seconds to grab items they think they would need if displaced from their home.

They will be asked to imagine that they have to leave their home suddenly because of violence or a climate disaster and that they need to quickly take essential items with them. Concern said this is the reality faced by millions of people around the world today in countries like Sudan in East Africa.

The unique challenge will take place at Concern’s space in the Global Solidarity Hub at block 4, row 21, stand 535 at the ploughing event in Ratheniska, Co Laois from Tuesday, September 17 to Thursday, September 19.

“We will ask visitors to step into the shoes of people forced to flee their homes with just seconds to grab what they can and go,” said Concern’s Head of Global Citizenship, Lauren Wright.

“Displacement is an unfortunate reality for so many people in the 26 countries where we work, such as Sudan where 10.3 million people have fled their homes since conflict began there in April 2023.

“For them, this is not a game, but a sobering reality. They often have no time to bring any belongings with them before they flee their homes while others might be lucky to have seconds or minutes to grab what they can before running. Many of the people we work with are farmers who have had to leave their crops and livestock behind.

“After each challenge we will discuss why they chose the items they took and will explain how Concern supports people in places like Sudan, Gaza, Ukraine and Haiti.

“We hope that participants leave with a new understanding of the reality many people face when forced to flee their homes.”

Concern will also have branded items to give away to visitors like cloth shopping bags and pencils.

The Global Solidarity Hub section of the National Ploughing Championships is led by the representative association for overseas aid organisations, Dóchas, and will also be shared with Concern Worldwide, Self Help Africa, Sightsavers Ireland, Brighter Communities and Trócaire.

They aim to create an engaging and interactive space where visitors can see the shared goals of Irish aid organisations and how they support people living with hunger and extreme poverty around the world.

ENDS

For more information, please contact Kevin Jenkinson at kevin.jenkinson@concern.net.