HELIFTIN2, the Institute-supported programme to enhance financial literacy education in upper primary and lower secondary schools in Cyprus is now well underway following a launch event in Nicosia in May.
The programme is implemented by the Institute’s partner ActionAid Hellas, a Greek NGO and supported by the Financial Wellbeing Institute, the Central Bank of Cyprus, the Hellenic Bank of Cyprus and the Ministry of Education.
Going beyond an analysis of financial concepts, it links financial literacy and citizenship education and promotes financial literacy as a key life skill for making informed and conscious decisions.
“To me, financial education is not only about interest rates, or understanding what insurance to buy or making investments with your savings…No!” said Luisa Ferreira, Head of the Social programme at the Institute. “Financial education starts with creating a new mindset, in which we are financially conscious in every decision we make.”
HELITFIN2 builds upon the success of a similar programme in Greece HELITFIN1 and uses the same methodology, aiming to empower students and train teachers of financial literacy at school.
The learning material has been created and teachers have received and are receiving training and mentoring.
By December 2023, some250 primary and secondary school teachers in Cyprus will be trained on how to apply the HELITFIN curricula and materials in their classrooms and teach financial education to 3 500 students in Cyprus. An additional 3 500 teachers in Cyprus will be reached indirectly by HELITFIN2 dissemination activities.
ActionAid Hellas is a well-known NGO in the field of education and awareness-raising campaigns that has managed and implemented EU-funded projects under various European programmes. It promotes global citizenship education and human rights education through innovative practices and methods.
The EIB Institute is active in research into financial education as well as in financing programmes designed to promote and implement such education in Bulgaria, Italy, Greece and Cyprus.
