Developing a culture of economic literacy and teaching the rules of sound financial management are definitely natural responsibilities for BNP Paribas to undertake. Whether designed as fun activities or as more academic programmes, the initiatives financed by the Group are aimed at a wide audience.
Training in Financial Literacy
The aim of the Fondation Cetelem pour L'éducation Budgétaire (the Cetelem Foundation for Training in Financial Literacy) is to develop and promote financial literacy - a mission that is entirely in line with the activities of BNP Paribas Personal Finance and its commitment to responsible borrowing. It develops training tools that are used by trainers from a number of associations and institutions that work with it to provide training in financial literacy: AGIR abcd, Aurore, CRESUS, Secours Catholique and the Fondation Agir Contre l’Exclusion (FACE).
It also provides the associations with educational materials and financial support to help them in implementing these programmes. The target audience is, first and foremost, young people who are about to enter into the workforce, and more generally people who are experiencing a change in their personal or professional circumstances.
Transmitting an Understanding of Economic Fundamentals
One of the most innovative initiatives in this area, “Mad About Money” is an interactive form of theatre produced by the National Theatre for Children and funded by Bank of the West (USA). It familiarises primary and secondary school students with the banking world by addressing concepts such as needs vs. wants, cash, credit, savings and investment.
In collaboration with Le Web Pédagogique (the Educational Web), BNP Paribas has developed the video platform ecodico.bnpparibas.com, which provides video resources for economics teachers and their students. In the videos, BNP Paribas economists cover the fundamentals of high school senior level economics curriculum.
Another initiative is the Stock Market Challenge, sponsored by BNP Paribas Securities Services. This programme enables Scottish students aged 13 to 15 to experience life on a trading floor for an entire day.
