Learning about financial literacy
Positive results
The partnership has not only developed
one, but two game modules to be used
with young people. The other game is
about financial literacy and is called
“Real Ideal”.
“Borderline Boardgames” is a partnership of
ten organizations from different European
countries. Part of the objectives is to create,
adapt and produce both “Mission Z” and
“Real Ideal” to the contexts of all ten
countries.
When the partnership began, the partners
especially from southern Europe identified
as a particular challenge that youth had
difficulties to understand financial realities.
The partners wanted a pedagogical tool
which could give the youth better insight
into this topic, all in a fun and creative way.
They also wished to make an activity that
also young people without regular access
to computers could use. The decision was
to make a board game: “Real Ideal”.
The game is played over six rounds, each
round representing ten years of a life.
The young participants encounter issues
like financial planning, loans, interest rates,
and maintenance costs.
They can also encounter envy of their
neighbors, unrealistic expectations, and
perhaps more than one share of luck or
misfortune. Just like in real life, it is hard to
know what awaits around the bend. That
is when you must plan for many kind of
scenarios.
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The feedback from tests conducted during
the project period in many countries reveal
that the participants, in an overwhelming
majority, have fun and enjoy playing the
games. Data gathered from nearly 300
participants in six of the countries shows
that 87% of the participants felt they
learned something important from
playing “Real Ideal”.
It was exciting to act like a grown-up.
I have realized the importance of planning
ahead and better anticipate costs, sounds
the feedback of a 15-year old test participant.
Other experiences the young participants
listed includes the need to consider one’s
spending and separating a need from a want.
Through “learning by doing” we manage to
include young people who may not thrive
in the formal education sector, says Jo Claeys.
He is one of the most sought after trainers
within the youth field in Europe and is
involved in the project as an external expert.