Managing Money is an Important Life Skill for Young and Disabled Generations to Shape the Future

Financial literacy for adolescents and people with disabilities held by Citi Indonesia. (doc. Citi Indonesia)

JAKARTA - The ability to manage money is now one of the increasingly important life skills possessed by the younger generation. Moreover, in the midst of rising living costs, understanding how to manage finances is no longer only relevant for adults who are already working, but also for teenagers who are preparing for their future.

Unfortunately, access to quality financial literacy has not always been enjoyed evenly. The disabled group, for example, still faces various challenges to obtain inclusive learning and meet their needs.

Therefore, more and more parties are beginning to encourage the importance of financial literacy that can be accessed by all circles, including adolescents and the disabled.

This approach is not only aimed at teaching how to save or manage expenses, but also building confidence and economic independence from a young age.

Recently, dozens of middle and high school students from a number of Special Schools (SLB) in Jakarta participated in an inclusively designed financial education activity.

Unlike conventional learning methods which tend to be one-way, participants are invited to learn through case studies and group discussions which encourage them to think critically in facing various daily financial situations.

During the session, participants worked together to solve financial problems, devise solutions, and present their thoughts to a panel of judges. This method is considered to be able to help teenagers understand the concept of finance more practically than just receiving theories.

In addition, various educational games and virtual reality (VR) technology are also used to make the learning process more interactive and easy to understand by participants with diverse backgrounds.

Head of the Subgroup for the Development of Learners and Character (PDPK), the PAUD and Community Education Division of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Education Office, Fitrianti, assessed that equal access to education is an important aspect in supporting the independence of the younger generation.

"Financial literacy is one of the important skills that young people need to have to support their independence in the future. We hope that more and more students will have access to equal, relevant, and quality learning opportunities," he said.

According to Fitrianti, inclusive financial education is also part of efforts to build an educational ecosystem that is able to empower all learners without exception.

Experts assess that financial literacy should be introduced from the age of adolescence. At this stage, a person begins to learn to make decisions related to money, ranging from managing pocket money, saving, to understanding the priorities of needs and desires.

The education provided in various financial literacy programs today is also increasingly broad. Not only discussing how to save, but also emergency fund management, simple financial planning, cash flow management, to the introduction of basic investments and financial risk mitigation.

Country Head of Public Affairs Citi Indonesia, Hario Widyananto, said financial literacy is an important resource so that the younger generation can participate more actively in economic development in the future.

"Through financial literacy education, we hope that young people, including women and people with disabilities, can develop their financial understanding so that they have a wider opportunity to build a more inclusive and sustainable future," said Hario.

These needs are becoming increasingly relevant given the challenges faced by today's young generation are not simple. In addition to the increasingly tight labor competition, they must also face various financial risks that arise along with the development of technology and the digital economy.

Financial literacy benefits can increase confidence

For people with disabilities, financial literacy has a broader meaning than just the ability to manage money. This knowledge can also be a capital to increase independence and open up opportunities for greater participation in social and economic life.

YCAB Foundation Chief Operating Officer, Linda Sukandar, said it was important to ensure that all young generations have equal opportunities in acquiring financial skills.

"We hope that adolescents with disabilities can acquire financial knowledge and skills that can support their independence, as well as build confidence to develop and participate actively in economic life," he said.

Financial literacy is not just about numbers and financial planning. More than that, this skill becomes an important resource for young people to make wiser decisions, build a more independent future, and have equal opportunities to develop, regardless of their background or physical condition.