CAPS (Poverty Simulations)
CAPS (Community Action Poverty Simulation) is a walk in another person’s shoes. It’s about shared experiences and making connections. One day in poverty can lead to a lifetime dedicated to fighting against it.
During the simulation participants role play living life as a low-income family dealing with unemployment, disability, financial hardship, and other difficulties associated with life below the poverty line. Participants must try to provide food, clothing, shelter and other basic needs for themselves and their “families” during four 15-minute “weeks”. Each family interacts with a mock community composed of volunteers who have experienced poverty and represent various community figures.
Although everyone involved is playing a role with fictional scenarios and props, the Poverty Simulation is not a game. It is instead a recreation outside of life in poverty that gives participants a new perspective on low-income living, as well as giving them a chance to reflect on their experience and discuss what they can do to effect change within their community. The focus is sensitizing people of poverty to the needs and struggles of those within its grasp, with an emphasis on broadening awareness among policy-makers and community leaders.
If you and your business, organization, or community group would like to be equipped to effect change in your area by taking part in a Poverty Simulation, please contact Don Baston (information below).
Contact
Don Baston
dbaston@unitedservicescaa.org
