How can financial education help kids? Artwork

Teachers' Voices

Teachers are one of the most influential and powerful forces for equity, access and quality in education. They provide children and young people with the knowledge, skills, attitude and tools needed to reach their full potential. Teachers' Voices is a podcast series from BOLD, the digital platform on learning and development. Join Nina Alonso as she shares powerful stories from teachers around the world, talking in their own words about their experiences, and listen in on inspiring conversations with international experts on learning and child development. If you're a parent, teacher, or just someone interested in learning and development, this podcast is for you. For more information, visit bold.expert

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Teachers' Voices

How can financial education help kids?

November 28, 2023 • BOLD and Nina Alonso • Season 3 • Episode 4

What are children around the world learning about looking after finances and other resources? What should be in a financial and social education curriculum? How can teachers involve parents in discussions on these topics?

In this episode, Nina talks to two experts from Aflatoun, an international organisation based in the Netherlands that brings financial and social education to children worldwide. Cristina Peña, Programme Manager for the Americas, believes that “now more than ever, we need to really understand how to manage our resources”. Cristina says that children aren’t necessarily taught these skills or given opportunities to practise them.

Curriculum Specialist Chandni Mehta tells Nina about the education Aflatoun offers. It’s not just about saving money – it’s also about saving food, resources, and the environment. “We are trying to help children and youth understand the broader societal impacts of the financial decision”, Chandni says.

Nina also meets two teachers implementing Aflatoun’s programs. Aura Juarez in El Salvador runs workshops for students to discuss finances with their parents. “For most of them, it was the first time that they actually discussed home financing”, Aura says. For some kids, it changed how they saw money.

Nina also speaks to Induni Dandeniya in Sri Lanka. Induni shares the five core elements of the Aflatoun club she runs: personal understanding, saving, budgeting, social and financial enterprise, and children’s rights. Induni says the club is very popular in the school. “Most of these activities are done as games”, she says, “so they enjoy it and they love this”.

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Guests and resources

Cristina Peña
LinkedIn

Chandni Mehta
LinkedIn

Aura Juarez
Programa Oportunidades- FGK (Facebook)

Induni Dandeniya
Aflatoun profile

Aflatoun
Website
YouTube
LinkedIn
Facebook
Twitter