2019 Samoa Global Money Week
LEADING ORGANISATIONS:
- Central Bank of Samoa
PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS:
- 31 Schools, Apia Insurance Company, Corner Nelson Library (Programme for Child Vendors), Federal Pacific Insurance, National Pacific Insurance, Progressive Inssurance, Samoa Life Insurance, Tertiary Level Business Systems Limited
NUMBER OF CHILDREN REACHED DIRECTLY:
- 463
NUMBER OF PEOPLE REACHED INDIRECTLY:
- 7 216
Central Bank of Samoa
The Central Bank of Samoa once again led the Global Money Week events in the country. The different events organised included the “Be Money Wi$e” Poster Competition, with this year’s theme being “Today’s $avings for Tomorrow’s Dreams”. While the poster competition is directed at primary school students, 2019 marked the first year that an art competition was introduced to college students. Other events included the Understanding Insurance Workshop, the Youth Financial Wellness Debate, and a Women in Finance Session. During the Understanding Insurance Workshop, different insurance companies came together to raise awareness on the insurance environment for young people. The key objective of the workshop was to allow students to learn about insurance as a way of saving. The Bank hosted the first ever Youth Financial Wellness Debate Competition. Students were given several topics to research concerning financial matters that are currently happening in Samoa and at the end of the event, the children shared what they had discovered and how their mind-sets had changed regarding financial behaviours and the financial sector development. Finally, the Bank organised a Women in Finance Session, in collaboration with WinLA, to educate and inspire young boys and girls to learns about basic skills concerning financial literacy. The key objective was to inspire and motivate young minds on how to become financially literate and great leaders.
2018 Samoa Global Money Week
LEADING ORGANISATIONS:
- Central Bank of Samoa (CBS)
PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS:
- ANZ Bank, Bank of the South Pacific, Business Systems Limited, National Bank of Samoa, Samoa Commercial Bank, Samoa National Provident Fund, 14 schools
NUMBER OF CHILDREN REACHED DIRECTLY:
- 303
NUMBER OF PEOPLE REACHED INDIRECTLY:
- 15 000
Central Bank of Samoa (CBS)
Global Money Week 2018 in Samoa was celebrated to help empower children and youth and to teach them the importance of financial education and inclusion, by showing them how money works in ways of savings, spending, budgeting and borrowing. For their GMW2018 celebration, the Central Bank of Samoa hosted its fifth annual “Be Money Wi$e” poster competition, under the theme of “Smart Spending = Brighter Future” and the second edition of “Build Your Savings Piggy Bank/Money Box” competition. The poster competition was a creative outlet for children to demonstrate their imagination and knowledge on spending money. The moneybox competition targeted college students from Years 9-12 and challenged them to be creative in building their own piggy bank or moneybox, to help them save for their goals. CBS coordinated its first ever School Visit Programme for Year 13 students of Commerce from rural areas. The colleges selected to participate were Safata College, Anoama’a College, Wesley College and Pope Paul VI College. A commercial bank hosted one school, providing them with guided tours and presentations on how the bank operates. At the end of their visit, the four schools had an afternoon session with the Samoa National Provident Fund and the Central Bank of Samoa at the TATTE Conference Centre. Throughout GMW, the top 5 winning speeches from the Speak Money Speech Competition 2018 for Year 13 Commerce students were published in the Samoa Observer for a wider reach and awareness. At the end of the Week, school’s from in and around Upolu participated in the CBS prize giving ceremony, for its “Be Money Wi$e” Poster Competition and “Build Your Savings Piggy Bank/Money Box” Winners.
2017 Samoa Global Money Week
LEADING ORGANISATION:
PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS:
- Public and Private School levels Years 3-8
- Public and Private Schools Levels Years 9-13.
- Business Systems Limited (Stationery Store)
NUMBER OF CHILDREN REACHED DIRECTLY:
- 583
NUMBER OF CHILDREN REACHED INDIRECTLY:
- 10 000
Global Money Week 2017 in Samoa was led by the efforts and initiatives of the Central Bank of Samoa (CBS), which resulted in one of its most exciting celebrations yet. At the conclusion of a week of activities with primary and secondary school students, the Central Bank of Samoa Assistant Governor, Mr. Gilbert Wongsing, congratulated the winners of the Bank’s fourth Be Money Wi$e poster competition, and its first ever Build Your Savings Piggy Bank /Money Box competition. These competitions led by the Central Bank were the two main activities carried out during the Global Money Week celebrations in the country.
Global Money Week this year was celebrated from 27th March - 2nd April through events and activities to help empower children and youth to be confident and responsible economic citizens. During this week the Central Bank also coordinated two other events such as the Money Talk Workshop for students from Years 7 & 8 and the Speak Money Speech Competition which is a financial literacy speech competition for Year 13 students.
The “Money Talk” Workshops were conducted at the Central Bank, and held for three days at the start of the Global Money Week, from the 27th to the 29th of March 2017. Nearby schools were invited for a two hour session, with the first half comprising financial literacy lessons and activities, and the second comprising presentations on our nation’s currency – both banknotes and coins – to familiarise students with the features of our money.
Following the 3 days of Money Talk workshops, the Speak Money Speech Competition on the 30th March was conducted. There were 15 schools invited to participate in this first ever speech competition, which was created to encourage students to build their public speaking skills and confidence, but most importantly to engage in expansive thinking about financial literacy. Competitors spoke from a given selection of topics; such as planning for the future, future entrepreneurs, the culture of saving, financial success to me is…, and more. The 1st to 5th place winners received a cash prize from Central Bank and gift vouchers from Business System Ltd. The rest of the participants’ received consolation prizes of $50 cash each.
The Build Your Savings - Piggy Bank/Money Box competition, asked high school students from Years 9-12 to create or build their own piggy bank or money box in any shape or form. This was a chance for students to showcase their knowledge of sensible money management in a fun and creative way. Each winning entry won a $300 cash prize from the Central Bank and $50 gift voucher from Business Systems Limited.
The Be Money Wise Poster Competition, with the theme “Save for Your Dreams”, was focused on the primary school levels years 3- 6. The primary school entries were divided into 2 categories. Category 1 included years 3 & 4 and Category 2 included years 5 & 6. The top 5 winners from each category received a cash prize of $100 tala from the Central Bank and a $50 Gift voucher sponsored by Business Systems Ltd. Each primary school of the Be Money Wi$e Poster Competition winners were also awarded $100 tala cash prize by the Central Bank for each winning entry as a reward for incorporating financial literacy competitions into their lessons.
All winners of the 2017 Be Money Wi$e posters competition and Build Your Savings Piggy Bank/Money Box competition, were selected from 454 entries received from schools in both urban and rural in Upolu.
The Assistant Governor acknowledged the efforts of the parents, principals, and teachers for encouraging their children and students to enter and participate in the competitions. He also thanked Business Systems Ltd for the kind sponsorship.
The Central Bank hopes to conduct many more Financial Fitness activities in the years to come beyond Global Money Week.
2016 Samoa Money Week
LEADING ORGANISATION:
DATE OF THE EVENT:
- 14th - 18th of March
TOTAL NUMBER OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH ENGAGED:
- 2 539
TOTAL INDIRECT REACHED:
- 4 000
To celebrate Global Money Week, the Central Bank of Samoa introduced its “Money Talk” programme for the first time, Tuesday 15 – Thursday 17 March 2016. As part of the programme, 19 schools were invited for a two-hour session comprised of financial literacy presentations and activities. The visit provided an opportunity for Years 7 and 8 students to tour the Central Bank and learn about the key and fun facts about money and how to manage it wisely. The money talk was hosted by two departments of the Central Bank of Samoa: the Financial System Development Department and the Banking & Currency Department.
The week of celebrations was concluded with an awards ceremony of the financial literacy competitions. Each winning entry of the `Be Money Wi$e` Poster Competition was awarded $100 tala cash prize by the Central Bank. The winning schools were also rewarded $100 for incorporating the financial literacy competitions into their lessons, and winners of the Money $mart Comic Competition received a $200 cash prize from the bank.
All winners of the 2016 Money $mart Comic Competition and Be Money Wi$e Poster competition were selected from 427 entries from both Upolu and Savaii.
2015 Samoa Money Week
PARTICIPANT:
DATE OF THE EVENT:
- 10th - 17th of March
NUMBER OF CHILDREN REACHED:
- 520
Building on the success of the initiatives launched last year during Global Money Week, the Central Bank of Samoa organised the Be Money Wi$e Poster Competition for primary school children in the age group of 3 and 8 years. In addition, the Central Bank of Samoa expanded their reach this year by organising the Money $mart Comic Competition, which targeted high school students. All activities focused on this year’s theme of “Save Today. Safe Tomorrow.”
The theme for Be Money Wi$e Competition, the financial literacy poster competition, was "Think Before You Spend". The entries were divided into 3 categories; Category 1 for Years 3 & 4, Category 2 for Years 5 & 6, Category 3 for Years 7 & 8. The top 5 winners from each category received a cash prize of $100 from the Central Bank plus a $30 gift voucher and a stationery pack sponsored by Business Systems Ltd.
The Money $mart Comic Competition, which was a one-frame comic competition for high school students, centered around the theme of "Why Make Saving a Priority?" There were 10 winners selected who won $150 cash prize and $150 towards their school tuition. The award ceremony took place on 17 March, the closing day of Global Money Week.
These initiatives, of course, go hand-in-hand with the various initiatives of the Central Bank of Samoa to promote financial literacy for both adults and young children. Each recipient is given four brochures that highlight the main themes of the Central Bank of Samoa’s initiatives:
- Saving Money: Make saving a priority!
- Spending Money: Spend with caution.
- Borrowing Money: Borrow smart when you borrow money
- Managing Money: Manage money, manage financial stress
2014 Samoa Money Week
PARTICIPANTS:
DATE OF THE EVENT:
- 10th - 17th of March
NUMBER OF CHILDREN REACHED:
- 550
Central Bank of Samoa organised the Be Money Wi$e competition to encourage children to use their imaginations and knowledge about money choices and ways to invest and grow money. Be Money Wi$e was a financial literacy poster competition for primary schools in Samoa during 10-17 March for kids between the ages of 3-8 years. A total of 550 entries were submitted by children from 11 primary schools. Prizes were awarded to 15 winners (5 each from 3 categories) as the schools the winning children. The winning posters were displayed in the building of Central Bank of Samoa.
Central Bank of Samoa conducted the prize giving ceremony on Friday the 14th March for its first ‘Be Money Wise’ Financial Literacy Poster Competition, with the 2014 theme “I can grow my money by….” The poster competition was a creative outlet for kids to demonstrate their imaginations and knowledge about money choices and ways to invest and grow money. The poster competition is one of the many programs by the Central Bank to promote financial literacy under the Financial Fitness campaign.
The 2014 ‘Be Money Wise’ financial literacy poster competition targeted primary schools in the country and was divided into 3 categories;
- Category 1 – Years 3 & 4
- Category 2 – Years 5 & 6
- Category 3 – Years 7 & 8
The top 5 winners from each category win a cash prize of $100 tala from the Central Bank plus $50 Gift voucher, trophy and other great prizes sponsored by Business Systems Ltd. The winners’ respective schools were also awarded 100 tala cash prize by the Central Bank for each winning entry as well as boxes of financial literacy board games.
The Governor of CBS stated that financial literacy “is an important life-skill in our diverse capacities as students, employees, consumers, savers and investors and more” and that we must “plant now the financial literacy seed, and we will watch as our children and students grow and bloom into responsible economic citizens”. The Governor also acknowledged the parents, principals, teachers and children, for their entering and enthusiastically participating in the competition. In total the CBS received 550 poster entries from 11 primary schools.
A minimum of 550 children and youth were reached during this week’s celebrations. This number does not yet reflect all the kids that were reached through traditional and social media.