Centsible

Status: (Past), Established 2008

Need
Lack of personal money management in New Zealand particularly among youth.

Objective
Improve financial literacy among high school students in year 12 and 13 through workshops and pre and post tests.

Project Description
Centsible was established in 2008 and has been continued and continuously redeveloped for the past three years. Workshops are conducted with the aim of meeting the needs of lower decile schools to develop financial literacy. The students are taught personal money management skills, covering topics such as:

• Smart spending
• Youth banking
• Budgeting
• How to enter tertiary education and KiwiSaver.

The students also developed an awareness of external economic factors on personal finances.

The workshops are made to be fun and engaging; including games and activities based around increasing financial knowledge.

Impact
By the end of 2010, 340 students were reached by the Centsible project. These students increased their understanding by 22% on average across the key topics covered. Students were offered part-time job opportunities with Westpac as a result of networking at the workshops.

Sustainability
Schools have contacted SIFE AUT requesting future Centsible workshops. Major sponsor, Westpac has confirmed ongoing partnership, opening the opportunity to roll out workshops on a winder scale. Westpac has requested Centsible’s materials for their own use, likewise; Diocesan School for Girls has adopted Centsible’s very own resources into their own business school curriculum.