The poverty simulation experience is designed to help participants begin to understand what it might be like to live in a typical low-income family trying to survive from week-to-week. The object of the experience is to sensitize participants to the realities faced by low-income people and motivate them to become involved in activities which help reduce the stresses of our students and ways to support the families.
In the simulation, participants leave their identities at the door and role-play the lives of various types of families living in poverty. Volunteer staffers create a community of stores and agencies that families interact with for four 15 minute ‘weeks’.
At the end of the simulation, facilitated discussion allows the group to reflect on their experience in order to gain further understanding, insight and additional information about resources and how to get involved and attend to their students’ needs in the classroom.