Global Community Day Boosts Financial Literacy for Teenagers with Disabilities

Closing the Global Community Day (GCD) 2026 series, Citibank, N.A., Indonesia (Citi Indonesia) collaborated with YCAB Foundation to hold an inclusive financial literacy workshop titled #SmartMoneyTalksABLE. The activity, which took place at Pacific Century Place, Jakarta, on Tuesday (18/6), targeted teenagers, including those with physical disabilities, to strengthen their foundation for financial independence.

Participants, comprising junior and senior high school students, came from various Special Schools (SLB) in DKI Jakarta, such as SLBN 8 North Jakarta, SLBN 9 Jakarta, and the WAFCAI Foundation (Wheelchair and Asia Indonesia Friendship Centre Foundation). The programme was specifically designed to address the challenges of accessing financial education, which is often difficult to reach for teenagers with mobility barriers.

Unlike conventional learning, #SmartMoneyTalksABLE emphasised an interactive case study method. Participants were divided into teams to solve financial challenges and present their solutions before a panel of judges. The atmosphere was further enlivened by a Happy Hour Booth featuring educational games based on Virtual Reality (VR), providing a fun and inclusive learning experience.

Hario Widyananto, Country Head of Public Affairs for Citi Indonesia, affirmed that this initiative reflects Citi’s global commitment to fostering inclusive economic progress. “We are proud to help the younger generation, including women and people with disabilities, develop financial literacy so they can participate more broadly in building a sustainable future,” he stated.

This step is crucial considering employment data still shows significant challenges for youth. Fitrianti, S.IP., M.AP., NLP, Head of the Learner and Character Development Subgroup at the DKI Jakarta Education Office, welcomed the cross-sector collaboration. According to her, financial literacy is an essential skill for students with disabilities to support their future independence.

Before reaching its peak, GCD 2026 had carried out various educational programmes throughout June involving Citi employee volunteers (Citi Volunteers). Chief Operating Officer of YCAB Foundation, Linda Sukandar, expressed hope that through this series of activities, teenagers with disabilities would gain not only knowledge but also confidence. “We want to ensure that every young generation has equal opportunities to develop and participate actively in economic life,” she concluded.