Aflatoun, Child Social and Financial Education

Aflatoun, Child Social and Financial Education

Dr. Tahira K. Hira, professor & Senior Policy Advisor to the President

On Behalf of Child & Youth Finance International Financial Literacy Leadership Conference,

Washingtom D.C, USA

Tahira K. Hira, Iowa State University

Aflatoun Background

2

▪Vision: The reduction of poverty through the development of socially and financially empowered children and youth.

▪Mission: To inspire children and youth to socially and economically empower themselves to be agents of change in their own lives and for a more equitable world.

▪Concept:The lack of basic knowledge about rights, responsibilities and finance is at the root of economic and social inequity.

Tahira K. Hira, Iowa State University

What makes the Aflatoun Program Different?

The balance of social and financial education is what makes the Aflatoun concept so unique.

Aflatoun believes that a combination on economic empowerment and social education achieves holistic and sustainable empowerment.

The Program targets children aged 6-14 (an age range that has not received much focus) in schools, alternative education and non-formal settings.

Its methodology is engaging and child friendly, and puts children at the Centre of the learning process through songs, stories, games and worksheets.

3

Tahira K. Hira, Iowa State University

Aflatoun’s Theory of Change

• The theory of change explains how the core curriculum elements are expected to develop certain competency outcomes which results in specific behavioral change.

• The behavioral change is expected to produce impact in the medium to long term.

4

Tahira K. Hira, Iowa State University

Core Elements

5

▪ Personal Understanding and Exploration: Child-centred activity lessons

▪ Rights and Responsibilities: Self-organized children clubs to exercise participation

▪ Saving and Spending: Savings activities, both monetary and non-monetary

▪ Planning and Budgeting: Economic socialization through savings books, ledgers and bank accounts

▪ Social and Financial Enterprise: Social, community focused and income-generating entrepreneurial activities

Tahira K. Hira, Iowa State University

Partnership Model

6

▪Work through organizations (INGOs, NGOs, Government, Microfinance and Savings Institutions, Teacher training institutes) to deliver programmes

▪Provide curriculum, technical support, capacity building opportunities, coordination events and shared services to partners of the network

▪Facilitate multi-stakeholder delivery approaches and regional/global advocacy and fundraising

Tahira K. Hira, Iowa State University

Programme Delivery: Network Partners

7

▪Like-minded organizations that come together around our concept with a sense of shared mission and purpose

▪Local ownership and curriculum contextualization helps filling gaps or compliments existing programming activities

▪Balance of centralized quality assurance with partners, board and taskforces input

Tahira K. Hira, Iowa State University

Programme Delivery: Teacher Training Colleges (Afla Academy)

Two-week pre-service training to familiarize student teachers with Aflatoun materials and explore appropriate, child-centred use.

A focus on active-learning methods that is transferable beyond Aflatoun and across national curriculum.

Agreement that graduating teachers are permitted to pilot program in schools

8

Tahira K. Hira, Iowa State University

Outreach

9

▪Partners in over 100 countries – 83 countries deliver Aflatoun, over 20 countries are preparing to pilot

▪Reaching a total of 1,300,000 children – 1,000,000 of which in Aflatoun in 2010

▪ Implemented in schools and non-formal education centers around the world

▪Teaching material in 60 different contextualized editions and 30 languages

Tahira K. Hira, Iowa State University

Asia (18)

IndiaBangladeshNepalPakistanPhilippinesThailandChinaIndonesiaCambodiaMongoliaAfghanistanKyrgyzstanSri LankaLaosAzerbaijanTajikistanMalaysiaVietnam

Aflatoun Around the World Europe (12)

SerbiaUnited KingdomMoldovaThe NetherlandsKosovoAlbaniaLithuaniaGeorgiaKazakhstanBelarusPortugalMacedonia

Americas (17)

ArgentinaEcuadorParaguayPeruCosta RicaNicaraguaEl SalvadorBrazilChileHondurasPanamaGuatemalaMexicoColombiaBoliviaSurinamePuerto Rico

Africa (17)

GhanaKenyaMozambiqueNamibiaNigeriaTanzaniaUgandaZimbabweSenegalGambiaLesothoEthiopiaMadagascarZambiaSierra LeoneBotswanaSwaziland

MENA & FR Africa (19)

JordanEgyptSudanPalestineMoroccoLebanonYemenGuinea ConakryGuinea BissauMauritiusChadNigerTogoCôte D’IvoireMali Burkina FasoRwandaCameroonDR Congo

10

Tahira K. Hira, Iowa State University

Achievements

11

▪49% of Aflatoun children are actively saving, that equates to 276,849 children

▪The average amount saved per month is 0.55 Euro cents per month (USD 2,750,000 / EUR 2,162,028)

▪Children run 976 social enterprises and 4,054 micro enterprises

Tahira K. Hira, Iowa State University

Why?Child and Youth Finance Education

Certified Savings AccountsCertified Savings

AccountsChild and Youth Finance Education

• Can spot high interest Avoid Money Lenders in Crisis

• Get loans from financial institutions

• Think twice going into debt

Improve financial capability, Break the cycle of poverty!

Make changes for themselves and communities

Avoid Have

• Stay in school longer

• Greater self-confidence

• Does not fear formal financial institutions

• Make choices• Start an

enterprise• Plan for future

Certified Savings

Accounts

Child and Youth Finance

Education

12

Tahira K. Hira, Iowa State University

Step by step guidelines available for the pilot phase

• Initial preparation• Planning• Material development • Training • Going live with program• Review and Reflections

13

Tahira K. Hira, Iowa State University

Aflateen (Youth Program)▪Target audience for youth aged 15 and above. ▪Learning themes are developed towards the lifestyle of a teenager, reflecting its complexity compared to that of a child.

▪Non-formal peer-to-peer learning will be encouraged where youth can take on a facilitative role in the learning experience.

▪E learning modules in development to reach youth across the globe.

▪Program pilot started in 2011.

14

Tahira K. Hira, Iowa State University

The role of the secretariatProgram set up related• Sharing all educational materials • Providing orientation and training • Providing the Aflakit – partner manual, training manual,

evaluation manual, governance manual and resource mobilization manual

• Facilitating a visit to the program

Concept impact related• Overseeing quality assurance and impact system,

analyzing and publishing data collected • Continuing improving the concept

15

Tahira K. Hira, Iowa State University

Join our partners!!

Valerie Meza, Americas Program [email protected]

Aflatoun, Child Social & Financial EducationNieuwezijds Voorburgwal 120 – 126 | PO Box 15991

1012 NL Amsterdam | The Netherlandsph: +31 20 7601340

www.aflatoun.orgvideos for more information:

• Aflatoun in short: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RbCtAytH-Q

• 6 steps of implementation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAa6aI22X5I&feature=relmfu

Tahira K. Hira, Iowa State University 18

Your Questions!!!!Or comments