Financial Literacy Program
Syllabus
Language: Swahili, English Subtitles
Categories: Leaders, Teachers, Children & Youth, Everyone, Discipleship & Evangelism, Training, Entertainment
Length: 13 Lessons
For: Everyone
Comic Notebook
Title: Maswali Kuhusu Fedha; see 'Syllabus Content' for the lessons' title
Author: Dr. Jerry L. Williamson
Publisher: Vision Fund, Tanzania and Kahawa Media
Produced and Printed: Kahawa Press
Pages: 192
Dimensions (cm): 19(w) x 14(h) x 0.4(d) each book
Maswali Kuhusu Fedha (Questions About Finances) is a Biblically-based multimedia syllabus that teaches positive financial practices in developing communities. The course equips participants with the necessary knowledge to make responsible financial choices. Additionally, by impacting hearts and minds with Biblical values this syllabus contributes to positive change in all areas of community life, and ensures that community development benefits every member of the affected community.
The primary method of delivery is a video syllabus comprised of 13 modules. They cover a broad range of fiscal topics including budgeting, saving, investment, and how to utilize financial service providers. These videos are complemented by comic-book-style notes for those being trained. Emphasis is place on the Biblical values behind saving and investing wisely, both as a form of responsible stewardship and as a precursor to providing for the physical needs of others.
A facilitator’s guide is also provided, which helps the course facilitator to ask good questions leading to robust discussions of each session of the course.
Family and Community Development
Each module contains aspects of the financial curriculum integrated with cultural references and Biblical values. In addition to being entertaining, the material is both culturally and contextually relevant to the target audience. It emphasises the importance of family and community development and is presented in a form that is accessible to all community members, regardless of their education levels.
Syllabus Content
| Lesson ID | Swahili Title | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ‘Mikakati Mipya’ | ‘New Strategies’ |
| 2 | ‘Mimi na Fedha Zangu’ | ‘My Money & Me’ |
| 3 | ‘Mipango ya Kujenga Akiba’ | ‘Plans for Saving’ |
| 4 | ‘Mahali Salama’ | ‘Safe Places’ |
| 5 | ‘Hekima ya Biashara’ | ‘Business Wisdom’ |
| 6 | ‘Hatua Mbele’ | ‘Moving Forward’ |
| A | ‘Pesa Inafanya Nini?’ | ‘What Does Money Do?’ |
| 7 | 'Kuwekeza Fedha Zako’ | ‘Investing Your Wealth’ |
| 8 | ‘Kukopa Fedha ili Kuzidisha Kipato’ | ‘Borrowing Money to Make Money’ |
| 9 | ‘Udongo Mzuri’ | ‘Good Ground’ |
| 10 | ‘Kukopa kwa Busara’ | ‘Borrowing Wisely’ |
| 11 | ‘Kumbuka Mwavuli’ | ‘Remember the Umbrella’ |
| B | Kumbukumbu ya Majibu | Remembering the Answers |
Videos
The video component focuses on teaching with a mixed storytelling approach. Animations are in a recognizably African style. Swahili voices, African characters, real life examples, repeated symbols, and traditional story modes are all used to deliver the content.
Comic-books
The notes combine comic-book panels with written notes that correspond directly to the material covered in the audio-visual episodes. The notes for each module are approximately 32 pages in length and printed in color. They are aimed at assisting participants with low literacy rates to retain the information provided by the curriculum and to remind them of the key steps required for implementation. Our intention is to say explicitly in early modules what we then say implicitly throughout the course. Using symbology and examples of current positive cultural practices (such as savings clubs) helps to increase the acceptability of the ideas presented. Long-term recall is encouraged by ensuring the content is relevant to the intended audience and by repeating important themes and ideas across multiple modules.