Poverty Simulation: An Interactive Experience
Poverty is a reality for many individuals and families. But unless you’ve experienced poverty, it’s difficult to truly understand. The Poverty Simulation bridges that gap from misconception to understanding. This interactive immersion experience sensitizes community participants to the realities of poverty.
It is not a game. It is based on real individuals and their lives. This educational experience exists to:
Promote Poverty Awareness
During the simulation, role-play a month in poverty and experience low-income families’ lives.
Increase Understanding
After the simulation, you will unpack your learning and brainstorm community change.
Inspire Local Change
Together, you can be a voice to end poverty in your family, friends and our community.
Transform Perspectives
The goal is to shift the paradigm about poverty away from being seen as a personal failure and toward the understanding of poverty as structural, a failure of society.
What Happens During the Poverty Simulation?
The Poverty Simulation is conducted by Oklahoma State University Extension Educators. During the Poverty Simulation, you will take on the identity of someone who experiences living in poverty. You will work together with your family to live a month in poverty.
Your Simulated “community” is a large room. You and your neighbors’ “homes” are chairs in the center. The services you need like banks, schools and grocery stores are tables that line the perimeter of the room.
The room that your simulation is set up in represents our community. Chairs in the center of the room and tables along the wall represent family homes and community services and businesses, respectively.
Like real life, you need transportation to work or school. You need food on the table. You might struggle with a chronic illness. Throughout the month you will face the daily stresses and challenges a person in poverty faces.
Our Next Event:
Thursday, April 4, 2024
Registration: 8:30am Program begins at 9:00am
Continental breakfast provided
Participants and Volunteers Needed!