Poverty simulation eye-opener to a different reality

Hesston College and Circles of Hope of Harvey County hosted a poverty simulation March 28, through a grant from the Hesston Community Foundation. With more than 90 participants, Jennifer Rose, executive director of Peace Connections, which operates the Circles of Hope program, said it was the largest simulation she has coordinated. The poverty simulation placed participants into family groups who, through guided role-play, fast-forwarded through a month in the life of a family living in poverty.

Freshman Vanessa Steckly (Milford, Neb.) makes plans with her family group at the start of the poverty simulation.
Freshman Vanessa Steckly (Milford, Neb.) makes plans with her family group at the start of the poverty simulation.
Sophomores Karli Rodriguez (Denver, Colo.) and Cody Halvorson (Temple, Texas) visit the “bank” while Cody Lebert (Douglas, Wyo.) and Sarah Hoover (Elbing, Kan.) look on.
Sophomores Karli Rodriguez (Denver, Colo.) and Cody Halvorson (Temple, Texas) visit the “bank” while Cody Lebert (Douglas, Wyo.) and Sarah Hoover (Elbing, Kan.) look on.