Financial Literacy Camp
Tiszaroff, July 4-8, 2016
After the previous year’s success, the Financial Literacy Camp continued in Tiszaroff. The number of participants increased, almost 100 students came every day from Tiszaroff, Tiszabő, Tiszagyenda and Tiszabura and all of them was excited to learn financial skills during the camp. The Foundation and the local Reformed Church’s microbuses helped in the kids’ everyday travelling.
The age of the children was very different, so they were divided in three different groups based on their age, so everybody could learn financial and economical basic knowledge on the level of their age and maturity. The topics of education were partly the same as in the first year, because on one hand, only half of these students participated in the previous year’s camp, and on the other hand, practice makes perfect. The curriculum of the senior group included a much broader material. The focus of the curriculum was of course the financial planning and saving.
Of course, various other programs and activities were organized for the students on every day which needed thorough planning and organizing. The groups switched each other with short breaks in classes, so the teachers had to prepare for the classes very well. The curriculum was based on the Pénziránytű Foundation’s Money7 material. The home of this Camp was also the court of the local Reformed Church.
All groups were instructed on their level of maturity in interactive ways. The sessions required the students’ active participation and cooperation. The kids enjoyed solving the various exercises, and those who had participated in the previous year’s camp were happy to help the new ones. We regularly used group methods, so even the shy students can learn easily the material and cooperate with the fellow students.
The sessions always started with motivational discussion to identify the students’ knowledge and to find a common good ground for the learning.
In every group the curriculum had the same logic:
- First, the students learned about where one can meet financial questions in the world (income, money etc.).
- On the second day, the focus was on the definition and history of money.
- The third day focused on the income sources.
- The fourth day’s theme was the systematization of mandatory and optional expenditures, regarding the local circumstances and opportunities.
- The last day’s main topic was the balance. The educational impact was the most important on this day. Understanding this lesson required the most preparation from the side of teachers and careful consideration of the local situation. Reaching balance is a huge challenge for those who live in poverty, and it is also a challenge from the aspect of what kind of priorities a family has, for instance what a family pays from their income: bills or food.
Eszter Takácsné Varga religious education teacher offered her assistance in discussing various questions of the students.
Based on the students’ feedback we found that many students understood that studying and acquiring skills and professions could mean a way out of difficulties, so we were pleased to hear that many kids, like in the previous year, are planning to continue their studies in secondary school which can be a good motivation for the wider community to set up future plans and fight for them.
We had a successful, meaningful and pleasant week again in Tiszaroff.
Tiszaroff, July, 2016