FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C)
July 17, 2007
Citi Hong Kong's "Smart Kid" Financial Education Program to Reach 10,000 Students
Hong Kong – The secondary school financial education program by Citi and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (T.W.G.Hs), "Smart Kid" Financial Education Experiential Program 2007/08, began yesterday with 120 students took part in the one-day day camp.
Sponsored by the Citi Foundation, organized by T.W.G.Hs Healthy Budgeting Family Debt Counseling Center and co-organized by Citi and the Learning Society, this financial education program is targeted at secondary three students and above. "Smart Kid" Financial Education Experiential Program aims to educate youth about the importance of personal financial planning through prudent financing, proactive upgrading and detailed planning.
During the one-day camp, the students go through a simulated life where they experience the different challenges and choices to be made in their "life" including education, work and unemployment, consumption and savings, investment and entertainment. The students also gain valuable experiences and insights from the group sharing sessions.
Sim S. Lim, Citi Country Officer, Hong Kong said, "Over the years, Citi, with our community partners, have developed and introduced a number of innovative financial education programs in Hong Kong. The ‘Smart Kid' Financial Education Experiential Program is one such example where the pilot camp in October 2006 spun off a financial education book – ‘Wisdom on Financial Management - the Six Basic Principles to Accumulate Wealth' that was launched last month. Encouraged by the overwhelming positive response from the students and teachers, Citi will continue to ensure its financial education programs are innovative and relevant to Hong Kong youths."
To ensure the program benefits more youths, the participating students will become ambassadors when they complete the day camp. Each school team will be expected to share their learning and experience with at least 300 of their schoolmates when they return to school. They will aim to do so within two months through various channels such as school assemblies or classes or school websites. The most creative and effective ideas used in sharing the "Smart Kid" Financial Education Experiential Program will be awarded.
Another two camps will be held on February 23, 2008 and April 26, 2008. In total, 360 secondary school students from 36 schools will attend the three camps. Coupled with the ambassador program, more than 10,800 students will benefit from the "Smart Kid" Financial Education Experiential Program 2007/08.
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Citi
Citi, the leading global financial services company, has some 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 100 countries, providing consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, and wealth management. Citi's major brand names include Citibank, CitiFinancial, Primerica, Citi Smith Barney and Banamex. Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com or www.citi.com.
Citi Financial Education Program
Based on the belief that knowledge is your greatest asset, the Citi Financial Education Program is a global, company-wide effort to identify, support and implement initiatives that help give individuals, families and communities the tools needed to make sound financial decisions. Citi's 10-year, US$200 million global commitment is focused in three areas: Personal, Small Business and Institutional Financial Education. Additional information about the Citi Financial Education Program, including Citi Foundation guidelines, links and resources and the Citi Financial Education Program Curriculum and Facilitator's Guide may be found at http://financialeducation.citigroup.com.
Tung Wah Group of Hospitals
Since July 2003, in view of debt problems and related family disputes, Tung Wah Group of Hospitals has been collaborating with the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accounts in the running of the Healthy Budgeting Family Debt Counseling Center, with sponsorship by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, to provide professional accounting consultations and emotional counseling to the needy. As prevention is always better than remedy, the centre will also promote the concept of "Healthy Budgeting" proactively to the public. For further information, clients can contact the Debt Counseling Hotline on 2548 0803.