After receiving more than 250 applications for the participation in the SHE COUNTS project, Prospera – Verein zur Förderung von Finanzbildung und Economic Empowerment von Frauen and CEFIN – Center for Financial Education and Empowerment successfully delivered a transnational financial literacy program for 34 women (21 from Austria, 13 from Serbia) through a combination of live events, online workshops and webinars, peer accountability through buddy system, group support, and individual mentoring.
The participants come from various age groups 18-60+ years, both employed and self employed. We also had one pensioner among the participants. Women from vulnerable groups (single mothers, victims of violence and members from LGBTQ+ community) were also part of the program.
Some of the highlights of the program:
„Women, Money and Career“ Kick-off event in Vienna with high profile speakers
The event started with a welcoming and personalized video message [in German] for our event participants about the importance of the financial independence of women by Eva-Maria Holzleitner, Minister of Women, Science and Research of Austria.
It was followed by a multilingual Panel discussion on gender gaps (pay, pension, investment career) with speakers:
– Alma Zadić former Minister of Justice of Austria,
– Nina von Gayl from FLIP Financial Life Park,
– Matthias Reisinger from Stiftung für Wirtschaftsbildung,
– members of Prospera, CEFIN,
– Renata Zach, interpreter.
After the panel discussion we also had a networking part:
Financial literacy workshops and webinars
We organised financial educational workshops and webinars delivered in BKS (Bosnian, Serbian, Croatian) language around the core financial literacy topics:
Financial Goal Setting and How to Improve Financial Habits and Attitude towards Money
The goal setting, financial behavior, financial attitude workshops were led by Karolina Herbut, financial educator and ICF ACC coach in Belgrade and in Vienna.
📝At the workshop, the participants explored their financial habits, behaviors and attitude towards money, and where and how they see their finances in the future.🏁
Entrepreneurial skills and additional earning
Through the “Entrepreneurial skills and additional earning” workshop, participants of the “She Counts” financial literacy program mapped their strengths, skills, interests, and how they can monetize them.
The workshop was led by Sonja Dakić – entrepreneur and business mentor, and the participants went through the Business Model YOU – Tool for recognizing their own potential.
Saving and Budgeting: how to effectively plan your finances
During the „Saving and budgeting: how to effectively plan your finances“ webinar Karolina Herbut, financial educator and ICF ACC coach shared with the participants recommendations for cost optimization and how to set up a system for their finances that will help them save the desired amount for their goals.🎯
Investing
How ETFs/index funds and investing in the stock market work, why diversification is important, and how investing helps to preserve and increase the value of saved money – Sandra Mytetka Ferenčak, blogger and personal finance educator, talked about these topics at the “She Counts – Investing webinar”.
How to recognize and avoid financial scams
🚨”How to recognize and avoid financial scams” was one of the topics of our educations as part of the “She Counts” financial literacy program for women.
👉Biljana Aleksić, co-founder and vice president of the organization CEFIN – Center for Financial Education and Empowerment, showed our participants the numerous ways online pickpockets (try to) get our money. She also shared recommendations on how to recognize and avoid scams.
“Alterarmut is weiblich” (Poverty in old age is a female) live tour at FLIP – Financial Life Park
A group of participants from our “She Counts” financial literacy program visited FLiP – Financial Life Park and went on an “Altersarmut ist weiblich” tour to learn more about why poverty in old age is something that affects women the most.
The tour was led by Semra Pamuk from FLiP who shared important facts and reminded us that the foundations of the financial future are being laid already today.
Feedback from participants
After the program we sent a survey to the participants. Participant feedback was very positive:
– All participants would recommend this program to others.
– Most respondents reported significant or very significant improvements in financial knowledge and practical financial skills like budgeting, tracking finances.
– Most of them started to implement a few new financial habits already during the program.
– After the program participants are more confident in making financial decisions.
– More than 70% are taking more active role in making financial decisions in their household.
– More than 50% stated that one or more person in their environment also changed a financial habit or made a financial decision thanks to what they learned at the program.
– More than 70% say that the program had moderate to very significant impact on their their immediate environment.
The SHE COUNTS project improved not just financial skills, but also civic knowledge and skills by combining financial education with transnational exchange, gender equality awareness, and reflection on societal structures.
The project was organized by Prospera and CEFIN and supported by the Civic Innovation Fund (CIF), the unique European fund THE CIVICS Innovation Hub, with the support of Erste Foundation.
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