An award winning financial literacy programme is coming to Papua New Guinea (PNG). The animation and music-based Cha-Ching programme provides a platform for seven to twelve-year-old children to learn the concepts, tools and practices they need to make informed financial decisions so they can fund their personal goals and dreams.

“Earn, Save, Spend and Donate” are the messages children in PNG will be sharing with the six-member children’s band, Cha-Ching, whose musical videos will be aired every Tuesday at 5:55pm for 52 weeks. Through a set of fifteen music videos, Cha-Ching can be viewed from the comfort of PNG homes from today.

Developed by Prudential Corporation Asia, Cha-Ching has been made possible through a partnership between Prudential Corporation Asia and EMTV, facilitated by the Pacific Financial Inclusion Programme (PFIP). Bhanu Sud, CEO at EMTV said he is confident that through watching Cha-Ching on EMTV, young children will learn important financial life skills they can put into practice, at an early age, to ensure their financial futures. United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator in PNG, Roy Trivedy said educating the younger generation about money management is imperative for achieving financial inclusion. “At the United Nations, we are happy to extend our support to create a generation of financially competent Papua New Guineans.”

Earlier this year, the Bank of PNG (BPNG) launched a national campaign to inculcate savings behavior among young minds. BPNG Governor Loi Bakani thanked all the partners for bringing Cha-Ching to PNG, saying that, “Financial literacy is a journey that evolves with age. Children are malleable and with the right set of skills, attitude and savings taught in a more practical way - our nation’s future financial health is immune.”

PFIP is a Pacific-wide programme helping low-income households gain access to quality and affordable financial services and financial education. PFIP aims to add one million Pacific Islanders to the formal financial sector by 2019 by spearheading policy and regulatory initiatives, facilitating access to appropriate financial services and delivery channels and by strengthening financial competencies and consumer empowerment. PFIP is managed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF). The Programme receives funding from the Australian Government, the European Union and the New Zealand Government.