Students gifted shares to open credit union accounts

Five students who attended the recent Credit Unions of Jamaica's National Financial Reality Fair 2024 (FIN FEST) in Kingston were each gifted $20,000 in shares to open credit union accounts.

The day's activities, staged under the theme 'Financial Lit, A it!' saw students from 11 high schools being exposed to the realities of monthly budgeting, which entailed expenses such as mortgage, childcare, and transportation, as well as how to prioritise financial needs versus wants, in managing monthly income.

The students, Deijanay Lewis and Khristavel Amore of Port Antonio High School; Shannoya Smith and Alethia Campbell of Kingston Technical High School; and Thayshawn Thompson of Titchfield High School, were successful in a competition in which they were asked to prepare budgets outlining their expenditure for a month. They demonstrated keen money management to include funds set aside for saving, investment, and discretionary income.

Lewis, a grade-10 student, found the idea of creating a budget somewhat challenging, but emerging as one of the five successful students gave him a sense of accomplishment.

"It was kind of hard to execute the budget, but the activity was fun," said Lewis.

Katrina Grant-D'Aguilar, group marketing and communications manager at Jamaica Co-operative Credit Union League Limited, said FIN FEST is about getting youngsters to understand the importance of money management at an early age.