This term the Geography Department hosted a return visit from Empathy Action, the humanitarian charity whose mission is to inspire and empower people to work together to improve the lives of others in need. Their simulation, ‘The Poverty Trap’, immersed our Year 9 students in a slum environment which enabled them to engage imaginatively with the challenges faced by the 800 million people around the world currently living in extreme poverty (that is, on less than $1.90 a day).
We hope that the experience, which provided the girls with a glimpse of the vulnerability felt when resources are scarce, has ignited a desire to help through action. As one student commented, ‘It was over-whelming and moving, especially as I have seen many slums in India but never really thought about what it was like to be in them.’
Ms Sissons spoke to a group of Year 9s about their experience, and they had the following comments:
It was eye opening and educational – we got to see life through the eyes of those in poverty and think about what they have to do to survive.
It will hopefully inspire people to do something to help and support the charity
It was a very realistic experience that showed us the struggle of how people get by in the slums and it raised awareness about the terrible situation some families are in.