Approximately 1,500 students from 40 Bucharest high schools benefit from banking classes within the “Banks in Action” program, organized by Junior Achievement and supported by Citi. The classes are taught by professors and 8 Citi volunteers, who share their knowledge and their experience directly to students. Moreover, Citi Foundation supports the project through a USD 24,000 grant.
The program started in May and will be developed until the end of this year. Today, 31st of May, the project includes a simultaneous computer simulation attended by 12 students and 4 Citi volunteers, that participate in a bank management competition. The software that the simulation is being based on is part of the educational project financed by Citi Foundation.
„Banks in Action” offers students information about the banking system and services, from the way banking works to the differences between an investment and a commercial bank; it explains banking instruments and services; defines bank account and loan types, debit and credit cards, payment systems. This year, the program is in its pilot phase, and will be implemented only in Bucharest, following to be extended to national level over the next years.
„Every child must be encouraged to get as much education as he has the ability to take, because in every child there is a private hope, and a driver for community growth. Citi sees education not as an expense, but as an investment. And we keep investing”
„Supporting this education is part of Citi’s global strategy and an expression of our franchise commitment to the local community. The USD 24,000 grant together with the enthused volunteering of our colleagues confirm this commitment ” says Cristela Georgescu, Deputy General Manager of Citibank Romania, and Board member of JA Romania.
„Citi is one of the most important global partners of Junior Achievement. And we are glad to benefit from the same support in Romania too, and to have such active Citi volunteers – a great role model for the business community-volunteering concept. Citi proved once again to be a real „Bank in Action” ”, said ªtefania Popp, Programme Manager Junior Achievement Worldwide™.
“The best proof for Citi’s local commitment to supporting financial education is the fact that, besides financial support, bank’s employees showed a lot of enthusiasm in volunteering and repeatedly met their potential future colleagues”, concluded Stefania Popp.
Besides the “Banks in Action”, Citi is also actively supporting other JA Romania projects such as: “Money and Budget” – dedicated to high school and university students, and the “Economics for Leaders” summer school – dedicated to students and teachers. Thus, over 3,000 students are being taught with Citi’s support.
