Child and Youth Finance is a global movement with an inclusive network of over 1000 international partners and stakeholders. Together we want to ensure that by 2015, 100 million children in 100 countries can own a savings account, and have the necessary capabilities to operate it by having access to social and financial education. The Child and Youth Finance movement promotes unified and collabora
tive efforts for Child and Youth Finance around the world. The movement is based on a joint effort of all of the partners and stakeholders of the network working toward the ultimate aim of the movement: reduce financial vulnerability, increase financial responsibility and inclusion for children and youth, and ultimately break the cycle of poverty. CYFI is a concept born from the experiences of organizations promoting financial education and financial access to children and youth across the world. ChildFinance is defined as “the creation and strengthening of systems, structures and policies which provide children with choices, informs them of their rights, instills in them values, empowers them to make sounds financial decisions, build their assets and invest in their own futures.”
CYFI stresses the importance of early financial education of a high standard combined with social and lifeskills education. This is supported by a financial system which promotes access to safe and appropriate financial products and services for children and youth. CYFI is an umbrella organization that aims to develop a global network including government representatives, financial service providers, multilaterals, NGOs, academics, private foundations and other communities of practice focusing on financial products and skills development for young people. Through the development of this multi-stakeholder movement, ChildFinance hopes to increase the exposure of children throughout the world to quality social and financial education and financial products that contribute to their personal development.