Of nearly 27.1 million refugees, around half are under 18. Often fleeing with little or nothing, and face unknown challenges on their journey to safety. Dare to Journey is the We Are Tearfund community's latest campaign that helps to raise awareness of the refugee crisis and supports Tearfund's work of ending extreme poverty in over 50 countries.

Violence, persecution and the climate crisis force people worldwide to flee their homes. Will you Dare to Journey with us and support the We Are Tearfund community who will travel the same distance a refugee travels when fleeing their home country?

What is Dare to Journey?

Join us on our daring journey to walk, trek, hike or ride the same distance a refugee would travel. Through this, we will stand in solidarity with refugees by raising awareness and advocating for their rights. At least 89.3 million people worldwide have been forced to flee their homes.

*Warning: content includes mention of violence that may be upsetting to some readers

Sakila is 19 years old and lived at Moung Daw in Myanmar with her family. From the beginning of September 2017, the military of Myanmar began illegally arresting people, physical violence against citizens and banned the freedom of movement.

Sakila and her family decided to flee to the neighbouring country Bangladesh. Leaving their home was difficult, but staying meant their lives would be in danger. It took four days to walk to Bangladesh. Along the journey, some of her family members died.

With the help of Tearfund supporters, Tearfund's partner World Concern Bangladesh helped to support Sakila and her family. They provided her with equipment and training to start a future business, and psychological (and mental health) support. By supporting this fundraiser, your donation could help people like Sakila.

What the campaign involves:

Young people and Youth Groups will be walking various distances to represent our global neighbours across the world. Not only will this journey fundraise for Tearfund's global work, but the team will be taking part in dares throughout. When you donate to the fundraiser, you can ask for them to complete a specific dare; just include a dare number from the list below.

Dares are split into three categories - MORE FUN, MORE MEANINGFUL, MORE CHALLENGING.

More Fun

1. Dress up/ wear a costume

2. Find people to start a conga line with

3. Eat a whole raw onion

4. Eat a whole banana (including the peel)

5. Act like a chicken or a duck

6. Go Live on Instagram/Tiktok and do a performance for your followers.

More Meaningful

7. Pack a backpack with what you would pack if you had to flee your home in a hurry and carry it on the journey with you

8. Listen to the Dare to Journey podcast episodes to hear stories from refugees.

9. Give five people a high five (or elbow bump) and share with them what youre fundraising for.

10. Make a cardboard sign to bring on your journey explaining what youre doing (include a QR code to your Just Giving page & statistics about refugees).

11. Give a word of encouragement to three people you come across on your journey.

12. Post on social media a short reel/TikTok of your journey and why you are doing it.

13. Research facts about the refugee crisis and share them with people you meet on your journey.

More Challenging

14. Travel 100 metres backwards.

15. Travel 100 metres with your shoes on the wrong foot

16. Skip for the next 100 metres

17. Wear your backpack/bag on your front

18. Wear three layers of clothing

19. (Group challenge) Swap shoes with someone in your team

20. (Group challenge) Walk a mile three-legged with someone else.

Why don't you Dare to Journey with us today and give to this campaign? How can you be generous with what's in your hands?

One of the best ways to pursue justice is investing in work that is causing a real impact and change in communities facing injustice - like Rasida and her family.

In the last year, Tearfund has:

Reached 1.7 million people through our emergency response

Reached 1.3 million people through community development work

Mobilised 23,300 local churches

Here is how your giving can make a difference in:

Afghanistan:

£50 will help provide food for a family for 45 days.

Lebanon:

£37 could provide vital emotional support from a clinical psychologist to a person traumatised by their experiences of conflict

£80 could provide a family like Rasidas with the essential items they need to set up a safe new home

£100 could provide a food voucher for a family that would prevent them from going hungry

£240 could provide three families like Rasida's with the essential items they need to set up a safe new home.

Iraq:

£24 could provide 2 families with a vital hygiene kit including soap, antiseptic, toothpaste, sanitary towels, shampoo and washing powder

£43 could provide vital emotional and social wellbeing support to a person traumatised by their experiences of conflict.

£82 could provide enough clothing for three children to keep warm this winter

Will you join those Daring to Journey by giving?