Financial literacy campaign taken to school children

The culture of saving with financial institutions and the spirit of entrepreneurship will be fixed if school children acquire knowledge and skills in financial education.This is the conviction of the Association of Microfinance Institutions in Rwanda (AMIR) as it embarks on a countrywide literacy campaign in schools across the country.“The culture of access to financial institutions for savings and credit is not yet developed in Rwanda; we need to provide financial education to young people so that they can become citizens with entrepreneurial minds. This will translate into job creation,” said Jean Pierre Uwizeye, AMIR’s financial education projects officer.Uwizeye was speaking during an advisory committee meeting on Child Social and Financial Education project. This project launched last year, targets 37,500 primary and secondary school going children aged 8-14. The children will acquire knowledge and skills about small enterprise creation, savings and access to financial institutions. Financial education will be offered in savings clubs at schools during the time for extra-curricula activities and weekends.“AMIR will link all participating students with neighbouring microfinance institutions such as Umurenge SACCOs to open savings accounts,’’ Uwizeye said.The project is a partnership between UK’s Department for International Development (DfID), the government of Rwanda, AMIR and Child Savings International (AFLATOUN).

National

Financial literacy campaign taken to school children