The Joint Project of Mastercard, USAID and UNA Georgia on a mission to empower financial education of the country
Well known to all, Mastercard, the global leader in digital payments, offers people around the world priceless projects and ideas whose mission is to empower individuals and communities.
One of the main topics that Mastercard is interested in is strengthening financial education. Georgia is no exception, where in February 2024 Mastercard's Financial Education Project was launched, the main target audience of which is regions inhabited by ethnic and religious minorities. The project has been running successfully for the eighth month.
As previously mentioned, Mastercard shares a commitment to promote economic inclusion and prosperity among Georgia's ethnic and religious minorities, and this transformative initiative aims to raise the level of financial literacy and empower micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and individuals, students and graduates. Ensuring access to all necessary resources. The Financial Education Project, implemented within the USAID "Unity Through Diversity" program, by the United Nations Association of Georgia (UNAG), with the financial support of the US International Development, has become a transformative force in empowering Georgia’s ethnic and religious minority communities.
Key activities include the introduction of a basic financial education module for schoolchildren, students and representatives of small and medium-sized businesses, the creation of a financial literacy department in local libraries, the translation of an explanatory dictionary of financial terms into Azerbaijani and Armenian languages, and the strengthening of basic business management skills.
From February 2024, educational modules, public lectures, interactive seminars and online educational resources, as well as banking products, were created within the project. The project has already hosted interested people from Samtskhe-Javakheti, Kvemo Kartli, Kakheti and mountainous Adjara.
"We are proud that our financial education project has become synonymous with positive influence in Georgia. Over the past eight months, we've seen firsthand how financial education empowers both individuals and businesses, especially in regions populated by ethnic and religious minorities. This initiative is in line with our broader mission to promote financial inclusion and economic growth in the country. We believe that if we give people the necessary tools and resources to make informed financial decisions, we will not only empower them at the individual level, but also contribute to the overall well-being of the country" — Davit Zgudadze, Regional Director of Mastercard in Georgia and Armenia.
Mastercard cooperates with such important educational, business and financial organizations in Georgia as: Liberty, National Bank of Georgia, National Library of the Parliament of Georgia, Women for Tomorrow, Society and Banks, educational platforms "Orjer Ori" and "22 Gradusi", and key media representatives, both at the national and local levels.
Mastercard's financial education project will continue until the end of the year.