South Africans’ financial literacy is currently ranked lowest in the world, according to a survey conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, in which 2 813 South Africans aged between 18 and 79 participated.
“With this in mind, we realised that it was crucial to educate young people on healthy financial habits before they enter adulthood and provide them with financial wellness tools for their futures,” says Metropolitan CSI Manager, Elsie Govender. The result is Kickstarz: a financial education programme that provides money management training with an entertaining and age-relevant twist.
Aimed at Grade 11 learners, Kickstarz connects with this tough teen audience by giving them the chance to start their own sneaker companies (each with unique names and logos) and designing their very own pair of sneakers that they then market to the rest of the school. In doing so, and through several interactive lessons, they learn financial basics from how to read a bank statement and how to plan and follow a budget, to more advanced issues like how to build up a good credit record and stay out of debt. Currently, an app is being developed to support the teaching of the Kickstarz lessons. On the final day of the programme, they get to display their sneaker designs and decide which was the best-performing ‘business’ in the programme. All members of the winning team walk away with a real pair of sneakers, made using their very own design.The programme not only teaches financial principles, but also other valuable skills such as teamwork and presentation skills, which are not necessarily taught through textbooks.
For more information, visit www.metropolitan.co.za.