For Lina Wingawi, a 60-year-old Business Development Officer from East Sepik, financial management wasn’t always a strong point. Despite her university education and professional role, she often found herself spending without clear budgeting, making financial decisions that didn’t align with long-term goals. That all changed in March 2025 when she attended a Financial Literacy Training session facilitated by CEFI.

The training, focused on savings and budgeting, was a turning point for Lina. “Before the training, I didn’t make daily or weekly budgets and didn’t follow a strict spending plan,” she admitted. “Sometimes I spent money unwisely.” However, after attending the sessions, Lina began to implement disciplined budgeting practices. “Now, I follow my budget strictly and try to save as much as I can,” she said, highlighting the importance of preparing for school fees and unexpected expenses.

The training had an immediate and practical impact. During the sessions, Lina was temporarily off the payroll, yet she still managed to save enough to cover her travel costs. “There was no unnecessary spending,” she shared proudly.

Lina was particularly impressed by the delivery of the training. “The PowerPoint presentations and practical sessions using flip charts stood out the most,” she noted. Inspired by the techniques used by her trainer, she is eager to pass on the knowledge. “I want to go back and train clients to budget and save their earnings.”

Lina’s story is a testament to how targeted financial education can change habits, improve livelihoods, and empower individuals to uplift not only themselves but their communities as well.

Image Caption:  Lina is determined to educate her community on Financial Literacy and thanks CEFI for the training.