Kerema District in Gulf Province will host the Young Mind Savings Campaign (YMSC) this week from Wednesday 08th to 10th October, following successful rollouts in East New Britain, Milne Bay and West New Britain provinces.
The YMSC is a key initiative under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Centre for Excellence in Financial Inclusion (CEFI) and the Kerema District Development Authority (DDA) on 06th November 2023.
The Kerema campaign is supported by the Bank of Papua New Guinea, the Securities Commission of PNG, and several financial institutions including MiBank, Women’s Micro Bank, Bank South Pacific, Nasfund, Credit Corporation Bank, and Nambawan Super.
The three-day event aims to engage students from selected primary and secondary schools to promote a culture of saving and financial responsibility. Activities include awareness sessions, question-and-answer forums, and on-site bank account openings.
Participating schools include Sikalu, Ilakaraeta, Karea, and Epo Uriri Primary Schools, as well as Malalaua and Kerema Coronation Secondary Schools.
The initiative supports the National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) 2023–2027, which targets the opening of an additional two million bank accounts nationwide.
Previous campaigns have made a strong impact, with more than 600 student savings accounts opened across the three participating province, Milne Bay,West New Britain, and East New Britain.
Ends.
Image 1:
CEFI’s Special Projects Coordinator, Mr Tobias Toumne, briefs Sikalu Primary School Headmistress, Mrs Xavier, during a visit to the school on Monday, 6th October. The briefing focused on the upcoming Young Mind Savings Campaign to be implemented in the Kerema District. Observing the discussion are Security Commission PNG Senior Officer, Mr Max Siwi, and Rev. Pastor Tuta, Chairman of the Kerema District Steering Committee.
Image 2:
Students make their way out for recess at Sikalu Primary School. Sikalu Primary is among six schools in the Kerema District participating in the Young Mind Savings Campaign.
Image 3:
Students in class at Sikalu Primary School, one of six schools in the Kerema District participating in the Young Mind Savings Campaign.
Image 4:
The school signage board at Sikalu Primary.
Image 5:
(From left to right) Security Commission PNG Senior Officer, Mr Max Siwi, and CEFI’s Special Projects Coordinator, Mr Tobias Toumne, present the official campaign polo shirt to Kerema Coronation Secondary School Principal, Mr Colin Sauka, during a visit to brief him on the forthcoming Young Mind Savings Campaign.
Image 6:
A view of Kerema Coronation Secondary School.
Image 7:
Grade 9 and Grade 11 students of Malalaua Secondary School taking a break during lunch.
Image 8:
A two-storey classroom building at Malalaua Secondary School.
Image 9:
Three female students of Karea Primary School walking to their classroom.
Image 10:
The school grounds at Karea Primary School.
Image 11:
The signage board at the entrance of Epo Uriri Primary School.
Image 12:
A view of classrooms at Epo Uriri Primary School.
About CEFI
CEFI was established under the Association Incorporation Act and officially launched on the 24th of April 2013. CEFI was endorsed by PNG’s National Executive Council (NEC) as the industry apex organization for coordinating, advocating and moniotoring all financial inclusion activities in PNG.
CEFI’s vision, mission and values focus on financial inclusion and literacy , poverty elimination and the promotion of vibrant financial institutional operation in Papua New Guinea.
Visit our website – www.thecefi.org
Media Contact:
Mr. Leslie Omaro
Communication Officer
Phone: 7464 5678
Email: lomaro@thecefi.org
