Poverty Simulation: Step Into the Shoes of Those Facing Poverty

The United Way Poverty Simulation is a unique and powerful in-person experience designed to challenge perceptions, shift perspectives, and deepen empathy. Held in a physical space in the Alberta Capital Region, this immersive simulation allows participants to engage directly with real-world scenarios.

Throughout the event, participants navigate a range of encounters and challenges, with trained volunteers acting as business owners, teachers, police officers, agency workers, service providers, and government employees.

The simulation mirrors a month in the life of a family living in poverty. Participants must make difficult decisions in real-time, facing the consequences as they work to provide food, shelter, and other basic necessities on a limited income. This hands-on experience offers a rare opportunity to step into the shoes of those facing poverty, providing a depth of understanding far beyond traditional learning methods.