Teach 15,000 rural kids to save and invest

Engaged, passionate and entrepreneurial children are needed to solve social and economic challenges in the future. We believe that we can start teaching entrepreneurial skills and mindset at a younger age, along with the concepts of savings, planning, and budgeting.  Embarking on a simple financial enterprise helps children learn in practical terms the value of teamwork, creativity, and discipline.  Financial enterprise also enables children to increase their savings account from the income they gained from the enterprise.  On October 13, 2012, twenty creative and enterprising kids from four schools in Tagum, Davao, organized a Beads-Making training to hone their skills in making unique fashion earrings, bracelets, and other trinkets.  They experimented with colors and shape to come up with intricate designs that look fresh and young.  The children were also taught how to price their products and to creatively label for added marketability.  They learned simple concepts in sales and marketing.  Their products are being displayed for sale at the cooperative show room.  They can also them in school.  The income that the children will generate from the enterprise will be added to their savings account.  Beads-making was just a start of their enterprising journey.  Parents and teachers felt proud of the initiative and enterprising spirit of the kids.   

On July 31, 2012, children, youth, teachers, parents, and government officials in Victorias City, Negros Occidental joyfully gathered to launch the Aflatoun Social and Financial Education Program.  The day was rainy but the celebration was full of warmth and excitement.  More than 300 children participated in the launching with their hearts and minds set to prepare a better future for themselves.  Children showcased their talents through song and dance numbers, skits, and speech choir.  A video presentation about the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children, child enterprises, and child savings was also shown to the parents and children to raise awareness on the goals of the program.  Kindergarten kids, with the guidance of their teachers, opened their first savings account, and received their savings passbook.  Children felt proud that with $0.47, they can already open an account.  Teachers reinforce the savings practice of children inside the classroom through integration of the social and financial concepts in the curriculum.  

The Vice-Mayor of the city and the members of the city council also participated in the program launching, and extended their support for the success of the program.  The partner cooperative in the school, Victorias Public School Teachers and Employees Cooperative, established a structure to support the child-friendly savings.  Furthermore, the cooperative has lined-up some social and financial enterprises for children. 

Negros Occidental is one of the provinces in the Philippines with the lowest savings culture.  Instilling the values of thriftiness, simplicity, and entrepreneurship to children will eventually lead to a more savings-conscious and productive citizenry.