How a difficult childhood, a career in accounting and a passion for helping communities led me to Africa. Through my work in an accounting office, I experienced every day how important financial awareness can be. But my interest in financial literacy goes deeper than my work. Growing up, I experienced from a young age what it means to have to find your own way.
And those experiences made me realise how valuable knowledge, confidence and opportunities can be, especially for young people. I never imagined that this interest would take me from my office in the Netherlands to schools and communities in Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Where the Journey Began: Yourright Foundation
My journey into financial literacy in South Africa began when I had the opportunity to travel to Zimbabwe with Yourright Foundation. Yourright Foundation is a non-profit organisation that creates opportunities for vulnerable communities through education, development and empowerment. What makes their approach especially meaningful to me is that they enable people with disabilities to contribute to projects as trainers, supported by experienced professionals.
I was so inspired by their work and the people behind it that I am proud to also serve as an ambassador for the foundation. And through Yourright Foundation, I discovered Khazana Foundation’s Financial Literacy Programme. What started as an introduction to a new way of making financial education practical and engaging soon became something I wanted to explore further. Not only for myself, but also together with the young people in the communities I was visiting.
In May 2026, I had the opportunity to join one of Yourright Foundation’s projects, where I experienced their approach and impact up close.
Planting the Seed at Lupinyu School
My first opportunity to introduce the Khazana Financial Literacy Programme was at Lupinyu School in Zimbabwe. I worked with several groups of primary school children and introduced them to the Khazana Money Matters game, using play as a way to open conversations about money, choices, saving and the future.
What struck me was how a simple game could create a much bigger conversation. Financial literacy suddenly became something tangible: something to discuss, question and experience rather than simply a subject to learn.
For me, this was the moment the first seed was planted. I began to see how financial education could be shared in a way that was accessible, engaging and relevant to young people.
Learning Through Connection at Wild Hope
My experience with Wild Hope was a little different. Over two days, I had the opportunity to introduce the Khazana Financial Literacy Programme to young people in two different sessions, using different learning games and materials.
What I particularly enjoyed was seeing how the games created a natural way to talk about money, choices and the future. There was room for laughter and play, but also for serious conversations and questions. It reminded me that financial literacy does not have to start with complicated explanations. Sometimes a game is enough to open the door to a meaningful conversation.
On another day, we used a different Khazana game. The game offered another perspective on financial decision-making as we played the Payday Pioneers board game. Again, the learning happened through interaction rather than simply being told what to do.
From a Seed to the Next Step
By the time I left Zimbabwe, I knew I wanted to take the Khazana Financial Literacy Programme further. The experiences at Lupinyu School and Wild Hope had shown me that financial education can be a powerful tool to help young people think about choices, opportunities and their future.
So when I travelled on to South Africa, I took that experience with me.
At Ya Bana Village and Nourish Eco Village, the programme would reach different groups within several communities, from house mothers and young adults to fathers, role models and teenagers. What happened there deserves its own story.
A small seed was planted in Zimbabwe. In South Africa, we discovered what it could grow into.
This is just the beginning.
