TL/DR –
Students at an unidentified institution took part in a poverty simulation last Wednesday to better understand and empathize with those experiencing poverty. The exercise, which has been held twice a semester since 2017, was coordinated by NMU Nursing Professor Terry Delpier and is supported by the Student Nurses Association. Delpier, however, revealed that budget constraints and a lack of affordable spaces have posed challenges to the event’s continuation, and called for more faculty and departmental involvement.
Students Experience Simulated Poverty in Empathy Exercise
Students came together last Wednesday for a Poverty Simulator event, an exercise designed to promote understanding and empathy for those living in poverty. Conceived by Terry Delpier, NMU Nursing Professor and Event Coordinator, the activity aims to challenge the misconceptions some students may have about poverty.
The Poverty Simulator has been held annually since 2017, with a brief hiatus due to the coronavirus. Typically, the event occurs twice a semester, attracting over 80 participants and volunteers each time. Four departments within NMU collaborate to organize the event, as Delpier described.
However, securing affordable venues for the event has proven difficult. Without sponsorship from the Student Nurses Association, the event’s continuation may have been in jeopardy as it falls outside her department’s budget. She highlighted the need for resources to support such interdisciplinary initiatives.
Delpier also expressed an interest in expanding the event’s reach further, inviting professors to attend with their students and encouraging more departments to get involved. Those wishing to explore this opportunity are invited to contact Terry Delpier directly via [email protected].
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