Video: Interactive Exhibit Allows Visitors To Experience A World Of Poverty Without A Plane Ride

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TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – Heather Graham is taking her home school group on a tour of Olive’s home in Uganda.

The replica of Olive’s home and environment is part of the interactive tour known as “The Compassion Experience.”

The exhibit covers more than 2 thousand square feet and is set up in the parking lot of Tupelo’s Orchard Church.

Visitors get individual ipods and headsets that give a sense of what life is like in poverty stricken areas. At this exhibit, people can visit Uganda, the Philippines and The Dominican Republic.

“It’s an experience where you can walk through the life of a child in poverty,” said Tour Manager Sandy Collyer.

“It really almost wants to make you cry because of what happened,” said Alexis Graham, of Tupelo.

“It’s a lot different from how we live, it’s kind of like, there was trash all over the place and in our homes it’s cleaner than that,” said Raychel Sanders of Tupelo.

The experience shows the difference Compassion International’s sponsorship program makes in the life of a child.

“As we went through the process of seeing where they came from and seeing where they end up it’s amazing the things that Compassion does from them from education to medical care, they taught these children at an early age about Jesus,” said Heather Graham.

Visitors who come to The Compassion Experience have an opportunity to make a difference when they finish.  The back wall of the exhibit has packets featuring children who need sponsors.

“We did pick up a packet, we are sponsoring a little boy in Africa,” Heather Graham said.

The experience also gives visitors a new perspective on gratitude.

“It makes me feel awfully rich and unbelievable what we take for granted getting up and doing each day in our own homes,” said Esther Sanders.

The Compassion Experience will be at The Orchard Church through Monday evening. Admission is free. For more information go to www.cts.compassion.com/events/339