‘Poverty simulation’ exercise an effective educational tool

I refer to Dr William Wan’s letter “‘Poverty simulation’ class at SICC a worthwhile exercise” (Feb 10). He gave a fair and sound counsel in support of having such an exercise to encourage more people to have a better feel of the struggles of the poor in our land of plenty.

The Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) designed this “poverty simulation” exercise as an educational tool to assist any group that may like to avail themselves to such an exercise.

Those who have used such an exercise have found it stimulating and eye-opening.

Clearly, there is a place for such a pedagogical approach in creating wholesome awareness of the voiceless and vulnerable.

The exercise can be seen as one of the many ways in which any group — school, association, club and church — can adopt to help their members have a deeper awareness of the plight of the poor, and the challenges that they face in making decisions with very limited resources.

The objective of such an exercise is to encourage more of the privileged members of our society to take a greater interest in helping to alleviate the socio-economic struggles of the poor. This will contribute to fostering a more compassionate society.

There are other tools that can be used to raise our level of awareness and to encourage more support for the under-privileged.

There are also people who do not need to attend any workshop, seminar, exhibition, exposure trip or simulation exercise for them to know that the poor need help.

Such self-motivated people have been generous in contributing time and money to their chosen charity and cause.

Most people, however, need to be persuaded, encouraged and nudged to adopt an interest in the well-being of fellow citizens who, for various reasons, have fallen behind in the social order.

There are people who will be critical of the “poverty simulation” exercise. But there also groups that will continue to see the exercise as an effective educational tool.

MWS will be happy to assist any group that may like to use the “poverty simulation” programme, although our ability to do so will be constrained by our very tight human resources and limited number of facilitators, and the attention that we have to give to our wide range of social and healthcare services.

It is the prerogative of various groups and clubs to choose whichever voluntary welfare organisation they would like to approach for help and whatever methods they prefer.

The important thing is not to be distracted by discussion and criticism of what methods to use, and in the process, end up doing nothing that will benefit the people we really should help.