FWD Group has expanded its financial literacy program, JA SparktheDream, to seven Asia markets as part of the insurer’s 10th anniversary year community initiatives.
Developed in partnership with Junior Achievement Asia Pacific (JA), the program integrates financial, social, and life skills education for students to help boost financial literacy in Asia. By 2024, JA SparktheDream aims to benefit around 25,000 students in the region. A successful pilot happened in Hong Kong and Singapore last year, followed by Indonesia and Vietnam earlier this year, with Japan, Philippines, and Thailand following soon.
The program is led by FWD employees and brings together volunteers and students in local schools. Last year, more than 100 FWD volunteers taught 2,500 students in Hong Kong and Singapore about managing budgets, making sound financial choices and solving the needs of their communities in a creative way.
According to FWD, increasing financial literacy and educating the next generation is an integral part of its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy. FWD Group chief executive officer and executive director Huynh Thanh Phong said that caring for communities has always been part of the firm’s initiatives, and this program scaling is a big part of FWD’s 10th year in the industry.
“At FWD, we are here to help people celebrate living, so we’re excited about supporting the next generation with financial education that’s also fun. Through JA SparktheDream, we’re teaching foundational life skills – such as the difference between saving, spending and earning – in an engaging way,” he said.
Elsewhere in the company, group CFO Jon Nielsen recently exited the firm to pursue a career opportunity in North America.
What are your thoughts on this story? Please feel free to share your comments below.
