Injaz Bahrain and HSBC have partnered for the fifth consecutive year to deliver the More than Money initiative, an innovative programme which equips Bahrain’s youth with the basic financial literacy skills they need in the 21st century.

More than 3,000 young Bahraini students at the intermediate school levels have benefited from the program over the past four years, a statement from Injaz said. An additional 1,430 students are expected to benefit during the current academic year 2012-2013.

“We are pleased to continue our partnership with HSBC in this important programme which promotes innovative thinking and positive attitudes while instilling basic financial concepts to help our youth reach their career aspirations, whether as entrepreneurs or employees,” said Sheikha Hessa bint Khalifa Al Khalifa, executive director, Injaz Bahrain.

The initiative instils the significance of earning, spending, sharing and saving money to the future generation, in addition to the businesses they can initiate or jobs they can undertake to earn money, particularly in light of the recent economic downturn, the statement said.

It was created to provide the students with a better understanding of the relationship between what they learn at school and their successful participation in a worldwide economy through a variety of hands-on activities and technological supplements designed to support differentiated learning styles.

The programme will further encourage them to use innovative thinking while developing money-management skills that support positive attitudes as they explore and enhance their career aspirations.  

“We need to reach children early and provide the tools that will help them make wise decisions about money,” said Patrick J Gallagher, chief executive of HSBC Bahrain. “The concepts of financial literacy can be reinforced and built upon as these young students become adults and are faced with important financial decisions.”

The joint initiative began in 2008 when HSBC Holdings teamed up with Injaz Bahrain’s mother organisation Junior Achievement (JA) Worldwide to sponsor and implement the More than Money programme around the world.

This year, HSBC will contribute $1.4 million to the programme worldwide, bringing HSBC’s total program contribution to date to $7.3 million. This support will bring the programme to students in 31 countries, via 34 participating JA organisations, including Injaz Bahrain. – TradeArabia News Service