Cha-Ching, a financial literacy program, aims to reach 1M young students
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- The Cha-Ching Program has been awarded for its excellence in promoting prudent financial habits (Earn, Save, Spend & Donate) and nurturing financial responsibility among children.
[L-R] Maziar Zabeth, JA Asia Pacific President and CEO (1st from left); Gilbert Sadsad, Department of Education Regional Director – Region 5 (2nd from left); Marc Fancy, Prudence Foundation Executive Director (3rd from left), Rose Fausto (4th from left) , JA Philippines Krishna Alejandrino (5th from left), Pia Warburton, Prudence Foundation Group Manager( 5th from right), Gizelle Camua, Pru Life UK Vice President – Community Investment and Advocacy ( 4th from right) and Atty. Emeren Vallente, Pru Life UK Senior Vice President and Chief ESG, Legal and Government Relations Officer ( 3rd from right).
Prudence Foundation, the community investment arm in Asia and Africa of Prudential plc, Pru Life UK’s parent company, in partnership with JA Philippines, are thrilled to announce the official relaunch of its financial literacy education program that aims to reshape the future of young kids. With an unwavering commitment to empower the youth, we proudly present “One Student to a Million: Cha-Ching Shaping a Financially Literate Generation.”
Celebrating Cha-Ching Milestones
In 2016, Prudence Foundation with JA Asia Pacific and JA Philippines, introduced the Cha-Ching curriculum. Cha-Ching was co-funded by Prudence Foundation and Pru Life UK in the Philippines, a leading life insurance company that provides financial and health solutions. As these organisations continue to expand, it remains committed to extending its outreach by introducing additional initiatives within the Cha-Ching curriculum aimed at educating students on financial principles and financial matters.
As a testament to its success and commitment to involvement, the Cha-Ching program has now been integrated in the school curriculum of Grade 4 students. At such a young age, students are now exposed to matters involving money and finances and different investment modules. As the majority of key decisions in our daily lives involve money, Cha-Ching gives students the freedom and confidence to know and learn more about organising their finances, no matter how big or small.
Today, Cha-Ching is hailed as the most renowned financial literacy program for youth in the Philippines as it also received the Silver Asia-Pacific Stevie® Award in the Innovation in Community Relations or Public Service Communications Category in 2021 and the Money Awareness and Inclusion Awards in 2022.
This year, the renewed Cha-Ching program sets an ambitious goal: to reach 1,000,000 students and 28,000 teachers nationwide. This goal reinforces Prudence Foundation, Pru Life UK, JA Asia Pacific and JA Philippines’s commitment to becoming trailblazers in financial literacy education for the youth.
“Together with Prudence Foundation, I am very excited that the Philippines will be the first country where the Cha-Ching Curriculum will have reached 1 million students by school year 2023-2024. Truly, an amazing achievement reflecting our purpose as partners for every life, and protectors for every future,” shared Eng Teng Wong, President and CEO of Pru Life UK.
Prudence Foundation Executive Director, Marc Fancy, announcing the foundation’s goal to reach 1,000,000 students and 28,000 teachers nationwide through the Cha-Ching Program.
Getting to Know Cha-Ching Curriculum
Last year, Prudence Foundation successfully launched their one of a kind financial literacy online game, Cha-Ching Money Adventures (CCMA), globally. CCMA is an interactive online game and a dynamic learning platform designed to equip students and teachers alike with vital money management skills while making learning an enjoyable experience.
Aside from the interactive gaming design and interface, CCMA also reaches out to the typical student by playing through 4 different distinctive modules: “Hometown” for Earn, “Mallsville” for Save, “Las Races” for Spend and “Rockability Rivers” for Donate. These modules engage students in the fundamental Cha-Ching concepts: Earn, Save, Spend, Donate, all while earning points, learning, and having fun.
| The launch of Cha-Ching Money Adventures and Investment Modules. |
Making a Difference through Cha-Ching
Through curriculum integration and CCMA, Cha-Ching continues to revolutionise financial education, making it enjoyable, comprehensive, and accessible. It fosters a positive attitude toward money, empowering students to make sound financial decisions for a brighter future.
“Teaching kids financial literacy at an early age is not just important; it’s absolutely vital. It’s like giving them a compass for life, giving them proper reference as they navigate real life. By instilling these skills early, we anchor them with the knowledge needed to navigate the complex financial world confidently,” said Jed Velarde, Stock Market Investment Advocate and the Head of Partnerships at COL Financial Group, Inc., during the launch event.
Cha-Ching continues to change the narrative that only adults can handle money and shifts it to the belief that students can also make financially sound decisions for today and the years to come.
