El Salvador

2024 El Salvador Global Money Week

GMW NATIONAL COORDINATOR:

  • Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador (BCR)

PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS:

  • Banco Central de Reserva (BCR),  Superintendencia del Sistema Financiero (SSF), Ministerio de Educación, Ciencia y Tecnología (MINEDUCYT), Instituto de Garantía de Depósitos (IGD), Ministerio de Economía (MINEC), Defensoría del Consumidor (DC), Comisión Nacional de la Micro y Pequeña Empresa (CONAMYPE), Secretaría de Innovación de la Presidencia, Banco de Desarrollo de la República de El Salvador (BANDESAL), Banco de Fomento Agropecuario (BFA), Banco Hipotecario, Banco de América Central, Banco Davivienda, Banco Cuscatlán, Banco Azul, Banco Promérica, Banco Industrial, Banco Abank, Banco de los Trabajadores Salvadoreños (BTS), Primer Banco de los Trabajadores, BANCOVI, SAC Integral, Mi Banco El Salvador, COMÉDICA DE R.L., FEDECRÉDITO, n1co, Private and public schools, Private and public universities

TOTAL NUMBER OF PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS:

  • 72

NUMBER OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE REACHED DIRECTLY:

  • 7 580

NUMBER OF ADULTS REACHED DIRECTLY:

  • 34

NUMBER OF PEOPLE REACHED INDIRECTLY:

  • 2 569 100

 

During the celebration of GMW 2024, a total of 92 activities were carried out in El Salvador, 52 of this were on site activities, consisting of talks and workshops, guided visits to financial system institutions, fairs, discussions, debates, among others. As for virtual activities, a total of 29 webinars and 11 communication campaigns were developed in social networks and internal communication with the collaborators of the participating institutions.

Some of the main activities are highlighted below:

Banco Central de Reserva developed the “Expo-Innova Finanzas” fair, which consisted of a tour of 11 stands with topics such as: Digital Financial Products and Services, Importance of Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity Risks (Malware, phishing, firewall), e-commerce and interbank transfers; which were developed by the Banco Central de Reserva, Superintendencia del Sistema Financiero, Banco de Fomento Agropecuario, Banco Hipotecario, Banco de Desarrollo de la República del El Salvador and FEDECREDITO. It also organised a discussion on the “Importance and challenges of information security in digital financial services”, with the participation of experts who shared with university students about the information security risks faced by digital financial users and explained how these challenges are being addressed by key players to ensure a reliable and secure ecosystem for all users.

Superintendency of the Financial System organised an university debate among students of economics and legal sciences on the topic: “Data privacy and computer security applied by financial institutions to financial products contributes to the safe management of money and the reduction of fraud and swindles”. This event was attended by students from three universities of the country. The Superintendency also held an “Open House” where students from private schools were invited and had the opportunity to learn about the work carried out by the different areas that make up the Superintendency of the Financial System.


2023 El Salvador Global Money Week

GMW NATIONAL COORDINATOR:

  • Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador (BCR)

PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS:

  • Banco Central de Reserva (BCR)
    Superintendencia del Sistema Financiero (SSF)
    Banco de Desarrollo de El Salvador (BANDESAL)
    Defensoría del Consumidor (DC)
    Instituto de Garantía de Depósitos (IGD)
    Banco de Fomento Agropecuario (BFA)
    Ministerio de Economía (MINEC)
    Banco Hipotecario (BH)
    Banco Agrícola
    Banco Cuscatlán
    Banco de América Central (BAC)
    Banco Davivienda
    Banco Azul
    Banco Industrial
    Banco Promerica
    Banco de los Trabajadores Salvadoreños (BTS)
    Primer Banco de los Trabajadores
    Banco ABANK
    Banco Cooperativo Visionario (BANCOVI)
    Multiinversiones Mi Banco
    Sociedad de Ahorro y Crédito Integral

TOTAL NUMBER OF PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS:

  • 21

NUMBER OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE REACHED DIRECTLY:

  • 4 517

NUMBER OF ADULTS REACHED DIRECTLY:

  • 3 023

NUMBER OF PEOPLE REACHED INDIRECTLY:

  • 7 540

 

During GMW 2023 in El Salvador, a total of 45 activities were carried out, mainly aimed at young people, as well as employees of participating financial institutions and the general public, 16 of these activities were carried out in person and 29 virtually. The "Green Route" was a tour consisting of 11 stands where students from 10 schools and children of Banco Central employees had the opportunity to be introduced to the topic of green finance and learnt about basic financial concepts through an environmental responsibility approach. The tour took place from March 20th to 24th at the Centro de Recreación y Deportes of the Banco Central. Each day two groups of students were received for the tour. Participants learnt in an interactive way through different tools, such as kahoot, trivia, digital games on savings, Jenga, word search puzzles, informative capsules on savings and the environment, clips on green finance and recycling, games to learn how to identify green loans, among others. The Green Route also included seven stands of financial institutions, among which institutions that are venturing into developing green finance in El Salvador. They discussed with participants topics related to "Green and sustainable bonds", "Green credits", "Financing sustainable projects", "Savings accounts with simplified requirements", "Deposit guarantees", "Renewable energy for financial decision making", "Green credits and sustainable investments", "Optimization of natural resources", "Investments and entrepreneurship" and basic financial concepts. The Banco Central also had four stands, in which participants were made aware of the importance of caring for the environment and of how such actions can also have a positive impact on personal finance. Participants could generate energy by pedaling a bicycle, learnt about clean energy alternatives, the importance of caring for water and the current situation of El Salvador, making responsible consumption decisions and tips to identify counterfeit bills.


As a closing activity, a “Plogging" session was organised. The term comes from the word "plock up" and "jogging", and consists in combining physical activity with garbage collection. For this purpose, bottles, cans, paper, cardboard, and technological waste produced at the Banco Central were collected over a period of several weeks, and then the materials were sanitized. These materials were distributed in an obstacle course on the football field at the Centro de Recreación y Deportes of the Banco Central. The students were divided into groups of 20 team members, the mission of each team was to overcome each of the obstacles while collecting the materials, upon reaching the finish line they had to classify the waste in the respective dumpsters. The team that completed the tasks first received a prize.


With this activity the students learnt about the importance of classifying waste correctly to contribute positively to the environment. They also learnt that recycling and waste collection centers are sources of employment.


Other activities organised in El Salvador included talks and workshops on financial education and green finance. The importance of green finance was discussed with higher education students of “El Modelo Educativo Gradual de Aprendizaje Técnico y Tecnológico” MEGATEC branches of the Ministerio de Educación, Ciencia y Tecnología in different areas of El Salvador. Among the issues discussed were sustainable bonds, saving for a green future, sustainability and learning about saving and responsible consumption to earn. At the Open House at the Superintendence of the Financial System, students from schools were able to learn about the work that is done by the institution. There were also TED Talks at universities on "Green financial products", "Green, social and sustainable bonds", "Green taxonomy" and "Social and sustainable housing with a green approach", a financial education fair "Smiling to the future" was organised in public areas.


In terms of online activities, several webinars about financial education and green finance were organnised, alongside online financial education courses, several newsletters for GMW partners and collaborators, live sessions with Salvadoran influencer “Little Viejo” on the topic sustainability and financial decisions and a contest for the design of a poster on the meaning of financial education for young people.


The entities that are part of the CNIEF reached a total of 4,206 children, young people and the general public with the execution of different activities, both face-to-face and virtual, while the private entities reached 3,334 people, making a total of 7,540 beneficiaries. GMW 2023 was promoted through social networks and other media such as social networks, websites, radio and television media tours, mailings to employees and clients, among others. With these activities, the institutions that participated in the GMW 2023 in El Salvador, made a total of 137 publications in social networks and together with the rest of the dissemination activities, reached 6,785,497 people.


2022 El Salvador Global Money Week

GMW NATIONAL COORDINATOR:

  • Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador (BCR)

PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS:

  • Superintendencia del Sistema Financiero (SSF), Instituto de Garantía de Depósitos (IGD), Banco de Desarrollo de El Salvador (BANDESAL), Defensoría del Consumidor, Banco de Fomento Agropecuario (BFA), Banco Hipotecario de El Salvador, S.A., Ministerio de Economía (MINEC), Comisión Nacional de la Micro y Pequeña Empresa (CONAMYPE), Sparkassenstiftung Alemana para la Cooperación Internacional (DSIK), Junior Achivement El Salvador, Banco Promerica, S.A., Federación de Cajas de Crédito y Bancos de los Trabajadores, Sociedad Cooperativa de R.L. de C.V. (FEDECRÉDITO), Banco Davivienda Salvadoreño, S.A, BANCOVI de R.L., Banco Agrícola, S.A., Quálitas Compañía de Seguros, S.A., Banco Cuscatlán de El Salvador, S.A., Asociación Bancaria Salvadoreña (ABANSA), Banco de América Central, S.A., Ministerio de Educación, Ciencia y Tecnología (MINEDUCYT)

TOTAL NUMBER OF PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS:

  • 21

NUMBER OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE REACHED DIRECTLY:

  • 1,820

NUMBER OF ADULTS REACHED DIRECTLY:

  • 2,168

NUMBER OF PEOPLE REACHED INDIRECTLY:

  • 244,870

In El Salvador, many virtual Global Money Week activities were carried out including workshops and webinars on financial education, campaigns on social networks, Facebook live events, digital press and more. Digital tools such as Menti, Trivia, the Kahoot application, Virtual Roulettes and Physical Roulettes were used for events and sessions. The contest "Virtual Financial Challenge 2022: Ready with Your Money" was held for youth to demonstrate their knowledge about managing personal finances through different challenges related to the topic and to help them better understand about the importance of good money management skills for the future.

The "Draw, save and learn" contest was organised for students to teach them about a good use of money with a focus on the slogan of GMW. An offline fair with stands was planned in the complex of the Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador during 21-25 March. It consisted of a range of interactive games called Financial Circuit “Build your future, be smart with money.” Each stand focused on specific topics of financial education with the objective of developing a circuit of knowledge. During the conference, some comics and "Frank's Adventures" videos were launched. On the closing day, there was a magic show and a batucada was presented with financial messages on stilts. Event coordinators in the financial circuit granted scholarships for the “Cuentas Contigo” programme of financial education.

The forum on Financial Education featured tools and techniques to learn by making a budget to develop competencies about family and business economy. In addition, two TED talks for university students were held called "The intelligent use of your money, makes a difference in your future" and "Dreams come true, managing your money well", where two young entrepreneurs told their success stories. Students also visited to financial institutions, played face-to-face “Savings Ladder” game, and more.

The portal "Mis Finanzas en Casa" at the Tin Marin Children's Museum delivered certificates for courses. Banconautas station exhibition at the Museum simulated a rocket travelling to the moon while youth could learn about various topics in finance. At the end of the Banconautas experience, children and youth gained insights into the pillars of: Save, Spend and Share.


2021 El Salvador Global Money Week

GMW NATIONAL COORDINATOR:

  • The Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador (Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador)

PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS:

  • Superintendencia del Sistema Financiero, Instituto de Garantía de Depósitos (IGD), BANDESAL, Defensoría del Consumidor, Banco de Fomento Agropecuario, Banco Hipotecario, Ministerio de Economía, Ministerio de Educación, Ciencia y Tecnología, Fundación Sparkassen, Junior Achivement, El Salvador, Banco Promerica, FEDECREDITO, Banco Davivienda, FEDECACES, Fondo Social para la Vivienda, BANCOVI

TOTAL NUMBER OF PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS:

  • 17

NUMBER OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE REACHED DIRECTLY:

  • 2,491

NUMBER OF ADULTS REACHED DIRECTLY:

  • 759

NUMBER OF PEOPLE REACHED INDIRECTLY:

  • 570,787

During GMW2021, financial literacy awareness sessions were offered to children, youth and adults, mostly through digital means. These included webinars on a variety of topics, virtual tour to money museum and library of the Central Bank “Luis Alfaro Durán,” and many competitions.

The National contest on financial education included watching videos and playing virtual games on topics such as saving, budgeting, needs, wants, fixed, variable and ant expenses. The participants received awards and certificates in different categories: kids, junior and senior. The Financial Rally of “Protect your finance” consisted in resolving some challenges about financial education. The online drawing contest “Draw, Save and Learn!” required children to present a drawing about a good use of money and the importance of saving, including a video of the picture making process. Also, “Ecological Piggy Banks” contest, and a short video competition about “5 ways of saving” were held.

The Central Bank of El Salvador along with partners reached 3,250 children and youth directly in their activities and 570,787 children, young people and adults indirectly though social media during GMW2021.


2019 El Salvador Global Money Week

LEADING ORGANISATIONS:

  • Central Bank of Reserves of El Salvador

PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS:

  • 10 Schools, 17 Media Organisations, ASESUISA Seguros de El Salvador, Banco Azteca, Banco Cuscatlán, Banco de Desarrollo de El Salvador, Banco de Fomento Agropecuario, Banco Hipotecario, Banco Promerica, Banco Scotiabank, Comisión Nacional de la micro y Pequeña Empresa., Defensoría del Consumidor, Federación de Cajas de Crédito y de Bancos de los Trabajadores, Fundación Alemana, Instituto de Garantía de Deposito, Junior Achievement El Salvador, Ministerio de Educación, Sistema Cooperativo Financiero, Superintendencia del Sistema Financiero, Universidad Centroamericana "José Simeón Cañas"

NUMBER OF CHILDREN REACHED DIRECTLY:

  • 2 309

NUMBER OF PEOPLE REACHED INDIRECTLY:

  • 200

Central Bank of Reserves of El Salvador
The celebrations for GMW2019, organised by the Central Bank of El Salvador included various fun and educational activities, which aimed at teaching children about saving. The activities organised included exhibitions, games, forums, seminars, theatres, visits to the museum, and educational fairs. All activities were based on this year’s GMW theme, “Learn.Save.Earn”. The Week was launched with a fun education fair, open to all member of the public. The Children participated in games, visited the Central Bank’s Museum, and learnt about the history of money through videos and puppet shows. Presentations were organised on “Financial Inclusion and FinTech – Elements for Development”. Furthermore, presentations and visits were organised at the Central Bank and the Mortgage Bank’s museum. Throughout the Week, a theater play titled “The Circus of Happiness” was organised, highlighting themes of saving and budgeting. A virtual savings game was made available and a puppet show titled “The Wonderful Lucero” was organised. The Week was closed with another educational fair.


2018 El Salvador Global Money Week

LEADING ORGANISATIONS:

  • Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador, Consumer Advocacy Agency of El Salvador, Deposit Insurance Fund (Instituto de Garantía de Depósitos), Ministry of Education, Development Bank of El Salvador, Fomento Agropecuario Bank, Hipotecario Bank
  • Superintendence of the Financial System

PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS:

  • AFP Confía, AFP CRECER, Agrícola Bank, Airpak, Asesuisa, Asociación Salvadoreña de Empresas de Seguros, Atlántida Bank, Azteca Bank, BAC, BAC Credomatic, Banco Azteca El Salvador SA, Banco de Los Trabajadores, BANCOVI, Bancovi, Bolpros, Children's Museum Tin Marin, Cuscatlán Bank, Davivienda Bank, El Salvador Stock Exchange, Equifax Centroamerica, FEDECACES, Fedecredito, Fondo Social para la Vivienda de El Salvador Hipotecario Bank, Fosofamilia, G&T Continental, Infored, Infored Bank, José Matías University, José Simeón Cañas University, Junior Achievement El Salvador, Luis Alfaro Duran Museum, Mi Bank, Mobil Money, Promerica Bank, Savings and Credit Society (Integral Sociedad de Ahorro y Crédito), Scotiabank, Sparkassenstiftung für Internationale Kooperation El Salvador, Tigo Money, TransUnion, University of El Salvador, ZUMARAINTING

NUMBER OF CHILDREN REACHED DIRECTLY:

  • 3 899

NUMBER OF PEOPLE REACHED INDIRECTLY:

  • 296 241

Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador
Several events were organised with the objective of expanding the reach of Financial Education in the country. Financial institutions, schools and universities all participated in the week’s activities. The Week was launched with a fun fair in the Palacio Tecleño (Tecleno Palace), where 8 institutions and 6 educational centers participate. On the same day, a technical forum was held. The forum featured 4 themed presentations, with the following themes: Deposits Insurance, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities, Credit History and the Importance of Insurances. At the end of the presentations the participants had the opportunity to visit different stands with information on financial education. Additionally, an exhibition “How does the Financial System work” was launched, with the goal of explaining the financial system, the role of financial institutions, and to teach to children to make informed financial decisions with the available payment methods. A talk was organised on the “Experience of Saving in Germany”. The objective was to demonstrate how saving had a positive effect in Germany’s economic development, strengthening the notion of how beneficial it would be to develop a culture of saving in El Salvador. Furthermore, a Technical Forum was organised, where four presentations were held on topics such as Savings, Insurance, Insurance Deposits and Entrepreneurship. It was open to 192 students from the university, as well as members of the general public. Another educational fair was organised, where children, youth, and adults alike were informed on financial education, in order to motivate them to develop their abilities and make wise financial decisions. A tour of the Stock Exchange was organised, in order to develop a culture of investing and for the youth to get to know what the Stock Exchange does in the country.

Superintendence of the Financial System
Global Money Week 2018 was launched by The Superintendent of the Financial System and its partners, who provide financial knowledge to the people of El Salvador. A mobile app “Mi Asistente Financiero” (My Financial Assistant) was launched, which allows its users to calculate the fee to pay on consumer loans and mortgages. The app also allows the user to compare the charges from the bank, cooperative banks, credits, and savings groups. Multiple events were held in universities, where subjects such as careers in public accounting, financial inclusion, electronic money, the stock market, reforms in the pension system were discussed. Additionally, a discussion “Aprende y Crece” (Learn and Grow), which was backed by Banco Azteca, concerning digital banking and money management delivered in a humorous manner. An entertaining show “Learning to Save with Ben the Wizard” was held in the Marcelino Garcia Flamenco Educational Center, which was attended by more than 400 students.” Different talks were organised on topics such as the difference between saving and investing, different types of loans, and credit card usage. Primary school children visited banks, to teach them what banks do. The children went on a guided tour of the banking agency, where they learnt about the use of ATMs, how online banking works, how to write a check, and they were invited to call bank clients and see the vaults. After this, the children drew their favorite part of the tour.


2017 El Salvador Global Money Week

LEADING ORGANISATIONS:

PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS:

  • Asociación Bancaria Salvadoreña ABANSA, Asociacion Salvadoreña de Empresas de Seguros (ASES), Sparkassenstiftung Für Internationale Kooperation – El Salvador, Plan Internacional – El Salvador, Universidad Dr. José Matías Delgado, Banco Azteca El Salvador, S.A., Banco de América Central, Banco Agricola, Banco de Fomento Agropecuario, Integral Sociedad de Ahorro y Crédit, Banco Azteca, Banco Hipotecario, Fundación Sparkassenstifung für internacionales Kooperation, Universidad El Salvador, Instituto Francisco Morazán, Instituto Nacional San Juan Opico, Instituto Nacional el Coyolito, Tejutla, Instituto Nacional de Agilares

NUMBER OF CHILDREN REACHED DIRECTLY:

  • 4 245

NUMBER OF CHILDREN REACHED INDIRECTLY:

  • 6 284

During Global Money Week 2017, the Central Bank of El Salvador used its Financial Education Programme, along with strategic partners such as financial institutions, universities, NGOs and colleges, to reach a total of 3,100 children, young people and adults via conferences, magic games, visits to financial institutions, visits to the Money Museum and social network communication campaigns. As part of the GMW 2017 events, students from six schools participated in the Best Piggy Bank challenge, which fostered their creativity as well as the promotion of savings.

Furthermore, the Superintendencia del Sistema Financiero (SSF) held events throughout 27 – 31 March in different educational centers around the country to bring personal finance knowledge to children and young people. Mr. Ricardo Perdomo, Superintendent of the Financial System, was present at the inauguration of the activity, which took place at the Francisco Morazán Institute in San Salvador. This event was attended by 800 young students of the institution, who learnt how to prepare for financial autonomy.

On the second day of the Week, the Superintendent visited the National Institute of San Juan Opico, who reached 400 high school students by instructing them on the proper use of credit and credit cards. The Financial Education of the SSF also arrived on Wednesday 29 March to the Municipality of Tejutla, in Chalatenango, where 370 bachelors of the National Institute of El Coyolito learnt about "How to manage your finances and how to take care of money".

On Thursday 30 March, the SSF headquarters received 130 students of the Chair of Banking and Stock Exchange Law of the Gerardo Barrios University of San Miguel, and students of Public Accounting at the National University of El Salvador, to learn about the work of the SSF and the work done by the different entities and directorates with which the institution must have an effective supervision of the financial system.

The inauguration and closing events, which generated the greatest impact throughout the Week, were carried out in the inland of the country, where the greatest challenges were presented in terms of financial education and financial capacities of the population. Financial fairs were held at opening and closing events, in which there were participation of financial institutions, allowing young people to approach and to interact with the institutions.

The official closing of the celebrations was held on Friday 31 March, an event that took place at the National Institute of Aguilares and was attended by the Deputy Superintendent of Banks, Insurers and Other Financial Entities and Lic. William Durán. More than 300 young people attended the closing ceremony, learning about the importance of “Credit History” and “Entrepreneurship”.


2016 El Salvador Global Money Week

LEADING ORGANISATIONS:

  • Banco Central de Reserva
  • Instituto de Garantía de Depósito
  • Defensoría del Consumidor
  • Ministerio de Educación
  • Banco de Desarrollo de El Salvador

PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS:

  • Sparkassenstiftung für international Kooperation
  • Banco Hipotecario
  • Banco de Fomento Agropecuario
  • Banco ProCredit
  • Banco Agrícola
  • Banco Davivienda
  • Banco Azteca
  • Banco América Central

DATE OF THE EVENT:

  • 14th - 18th of March

TOTAL NUMBER OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH ENGAGED:

  • 1 500

GMW 2016 was celebrated in El Salvador through a number of activities throughout national competition was held on developing savings projects, which involved a group of students from each participating institution. The top 3 places received savings accounts and additional awards. There were also presentations on the importance on building savings, and a financial education magic show. Students were also given the opportunity to prepare dramatic productions related to money matters. Financial and Entrepreneurship Fairs were also held for the youngsters.

During the week guided tours of the Library and the Luis Alfaro Durán Museum were also held for students to learn about the history of money, markets and financial responsibility.

At the close of the week, additional Financial Fairs were held, including a musical performance on the main theme of savings. Presentations on entrepreneurship and responsible consumption were given and the youngsters were able to play a number of fun interactive financial games.


2015 El Salvador Global Money Week

PARTICIPANTS:

  • Banco Central de Reserva, Superintendencia del Sistema Financiero, Instituto de Garantía de Depósito, Defensoría del Consumidor, Banco de Fomento Agrícola, Banco Hipotecario, Jóvenes en Victoria

DATE OF THE EVENT:

  • 9th - 17th of March

NUMBER OF CHILDREN REACHED:

  • 1 500

2015 Global Money Week was inaugurated on 9 March in El Salvador. This year’s initiatives were led by the Central Bank of Reserves of El Salvador, the Superintendent of the Financial System, the National Deposits Fund, and the Consumer Protection Bureau. Collectively these institutions are part of the Programme for Financial Education in the country.

The Vice-President of the Central Bank took part in the inauguration ceremony that witnessed participation of more than 100 youth from the Instituto Salvadoreño de Superación Integral Issac Newton. They participated in a discussion on savings and a guided tour of the Central Bank.

During the week implementing partners highlighted the importance of economic citizenship and financial education to improve the quality of life of El Salvadorian children and youth.

The President, Central Bank of El Salvador, took part in the closing ceremony. He was accompanied by the Superintendent of the Financial System, the President of the Consumer Protection Bureau, and the President of the National Institute for Guarantee Funds.

2015 Global Money Week en El Salvador

El lunes 9 e marzo se inauguró la Semana de Educación Financiera, la cual es promovida por Child & Youth Finance International y organizada por el Banco Central de Reserva, Superintendencia de Sistema Financiero, Instituto de Garantía de Depósito y Defensoría del Consumidor, instituciones que conforman el Programa Interinstitucional de Educación Financiera.

La inauguración estuvo a cargo de la Vicepresidente del Banco Central de Reserva, en presencia de más de 100 jóvenes bachilleres del Instituto Salvadoreño de Superación Integral Isaac Newton, quienes tuvieron la oportunidad de recibir una charla sobre “El ahorro” y hacer un recorrido guiado por el Museo y Biblioteca Luis Alfaro Durán, del Banco Central. La Vicepresidente, invitó a los jóvenes a crearse el hábito del ahorro desde hoy, y aprovechar este tipo de actividades que brindan información sobre “Cómo ahorrar”.

La semana internacional de Educación Financiera se celebra la segunda semana de marzo, con el fin de concientizar sobre el uso del dinero a nivel mundial y en nuestro país las instituciones que conforman el Programa de Educación Financiera, realizarán diferentes actividades durante la semana del 9 al 17.

2014 El Salvador Global Money Week

PARTICIPANTS:

DATE OF THE EVENT:

  • 12th – 21st of March

NUMBER OF CHILDREN REACHED:

  • 1 560

PRESS:

Through a series of fun educational sessions El Salvador celebrated Global Money Week 2014 – with 180 children and youth participating on the first day! Global Money Week in 2014 was framed by the celebrations of the 5th anniversary of the launch of the National Financial Education Strategy. The Strategy was developed in collaboration between the Central Bank of Reserves, the Superintendence of the Financial System, the Institute of the Deposits and the Consumer Protection Bureau, to bring financial education to the Salvadoran population, with a special focus on the children and youth. El Salvador’s Financial Education Strategy aims to impart financial knowledge and to develop useful skills in children and youth so that they are equipped to make financially sound decisions when they are adults.

Plan International and the Municipality of Santa Tecla organised a Financial Education Fair were children and youth were welcomed by an address from high-level representatives of the organising institutions. Children and youth learnt about the "History of Currency in El Salvador" and watched a performance of the story "The Botija". Children and youth also presented their own stories on topics such as savings and money management. The best stories received an award from Plan International and the Municipality of Santa Tecla. Additionally, the Central Bank of Reserves awarded 120 scholarships to students starting university.

They also had fun playing a series of educational games that helped children better understand financial issues. Participating schools included: El Retiro de Ayutuxtepeque located in Cantón El Matazano, Centroamérica y Colonia Quezaltepeque in Santa Tecla and Arturo Ambrogi in the municipality of Colon. All educational activities during Global Money Week were implemented with the support of Plan International.

The National Institute of Puerto de La Libertad inaugurated its financial education programme “Know your Money” at an event attended by 600 children and youth.

Workshops were hosted by the Catholic Relief Services at schools and colleges in the San Salvador and Santa Ana districts. The students were introduced to basic banking principles and made aware of the importance of saving. Youth from El Salvador also participated in a Video Chat Café with youth from Spain where they discussed savings, crowd funding and entrepreneurship.

Learn more:

crs.org

2013 El Salvador Global Money Week

NAME OF THE ORGANISING ENTITY:

  • Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador

PARTNERS:

  • Instituto de Garantía de Depósitos
  • Superintendencia del Sistema Financiero
  • Ministry of Education El Salvador
  • Defensoría del Consumidor

DATE OF THE EVENT:

  • 18th - 21st of March

NUMBER OF CHILDREN REACHED:

  • 1 000

The activities during Global Money Week were child-centered and fun, which surprised some students who admitted they feared a “boring time with people in suits” (referring to the visit to the Central Bank) and instead, felt at ease to ask questions and to participate in games. The girls participating were particularly interested by the fact that the bank’s vice president was a woman.

For the first time Global Money Week was held in coordination with the national financial system institutions, a local government, and the Ministry of Education. The majority of participating children were from rural or suburban areas who have limited access to financial information and education.

A public fair was organised to raise awareness on the importance of financial education and inclusion was held at the biggest park in Santa Tecla. The event attracted bystanders, who took the opportunity to learn about saving from the children themselves. Some youth groups prepared theater sketches, puppet shows, murals and were selling crafts and bead jewelry as part of their entrepreneurship training. This was their first practical business experience for some of them. Government institutions involved in financial education were present with informational stands to raise the awareness about their services to the public.

A live video-conference was held in the park between Salvadoran children and peers from Peru and the Netherlands, where they exchanged experiences on financial education.

The celebration of Global Money Week continued throughout the week with 800 students from six schools visiting the Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador. They had the opportunity to hear speeches from the Bank’s President and Vice President. Their visit was marked by interactive sessions on the habits of saving, budgeting, and managing an allowance. The students saw a documentary on El Salvadorian currency, played games around the theme of money and savings, heard a storyteller perform a local folktale about a peasant who found a pot of gold coins while farming, and discussed the message of the story in relation to savings.

Scholarships from the Bank’s Scholarship Fund were awarded to 129 low-income students to continue post-secondary school or technical training.

“I couldn’t believe that we were talking to children in a different country who were doing the same things we were doing here! Even though I didn’t understand some of their words, I realized that they were learning about saving and money and that kind of stuff just like us here. I liked that we looked like we were on a TV show,” said Susy, 6th grade.