Services/Products - Poverty Simulation

The Poverty Simulation, developed by the Missouri Community Action Agency, is a comprehensive experiential learning programme where participants will role-play various characters. This simulation game is designed to help participants to understand the realities of the living situation of a typical low income family trying to survive and making ends meet.

In the simulation, up to 82 participants will assume the roles of up to 26 families facing poverty. Some families are single-parent family, while some are newly unemployed, and others are disabled or senior citizen receiving financial assistance. The task of the “families” is to provide for the basic necessities and shelter during the course of five – 10 minutes “weeks” which will represent one “month” in the life of a low-income family.

The whole experiential learning activity lasts for approximately 3 hours which includes an introduction as well as a debriefing session. This will enable the participants and facilitators to share their reactions and experiences.

Learning objectives

This simulation can be used as a cornerstone to enrich the participants with key learning points stated below:

Nurture empathy for low-income families in our society
Comprehend social problems arising from poverty and one’s role in tackling this issue
Foster a deeper appreciation for one’s family
Apprehend the importance of financial literacy and academic pursuits for a brighter future
Cultivate goal-oriented behaviour

Program description

Participants will be randomly assigned into roles, under families with different problems
Objective of the families is to provide food, shelter, and other basic necessities by accessing the various resources in the game play
Based on their profile, they will undergo different challenges in five-10 minutes “weeks”.
After which, there will be a sharing session with everyone in the simulation, to brainstorm and reflect on the key learning point.
The entire programme will take 2 hours 30 minutes.
With this, Envisage believes that Poverty Simulation enables participants to view poverty from different perspectives, through an experiential setting.

Added Financial Literacy Component

The Poverty Simulation can be adjusted to include a comprehensive financial literacy component. Financial literacy knowledge will be taught during the briefing and the participants will get the chance to implement the knowledge within their roles in the family during the simulation. The supplemented programme will take 3 hours 15 minutes.

Poverty Simulation Testimonials

“The simulation will be an excellent supplementary educational tool to schools to develop students’ appreciation for education, family and resources around them” – Ng Heli, full-time teacher

“Sign me up as a facilitator for this meaningful simulation in the future. I want to be part of it” – Lim Chee Kean, Student of the School of Design and Environment (NUS)

“The simulation emphasizes a very important need for personal finance management” – Chan Jing Lin, graduate of Nanyang Business School

“Now I know what my parents are going through. It would have definitely helped shape my mindset if I were to go through this simulation at a younger age. All primary and secondary school students should go through this” – Neo Yuan Ling, full-time teacher

"This event has made me realize how lucky I am to have a roof above my head. I could see that many participants were inspired to be more involved in eradicating poverty"
-Evan Ega Wijaya, 19, student of ACS (Independent)

“Poverty Simulation is a fun way to discover new perspectives of life, something that we often overlook in school.”
-Iskandar Zulkarnain, 14, student of JWSS

“The simulation helps me realise how fortunate I have been. I am thankful of my family and the opportunities that I have been given. “
Mohammad Radzi bin Radzali, student of ITE