Plunge2Poverty

I just read this interesting article about a Waco minister who created a poverty simulation called Plunge2poverty. He released a guidebook that other organizations can use to recreate the poverty simulation:

Plunge2poverty: An Intensive Poverty Simulation Experience

Basically, the simulation consists of giving 40 simulation dollars to participants from privileged or middle-class backgrounds. The participants try to use the simulation money over a weekend, and by doing so they find out what it feels like to have too little money to buy everything they want. The experience probably feels realistic because the participants have to decide between which needs they fulfill, much like how poor people have to try and stretch their money out.

I assume the simulation takes place in a small simulation economy. Perhaps in a school auditorium or something like that.

I think the simulation can help people better understand how poverty feels. However, people already know that poverty hurts, and most people already want to end poverty. More than personally experiencing poverty, we need to figure out a way to end poverty. Once we figure out a way to end it, then we have to use what we figure out to actually end poverty.

You can discuss this post and the use of poverty simulations in this thread at the World Hunger and Poverty Forums. It is completely free, and all viewpoints are welcome.