The Microfinance Expansion Project in Vanimo, West Sepik Province, has given girls and women the opportunity be smarter in handling their finances.
Participants in the training say it was an eye opener and one that gives them confidence to make better decisions.
The recent graduation of participants in the financial literacy program saw a good number of female trainees receive their certificates.
Some of them included primary school children from as far as Nuku District, who made the long journey to receive their certificates.
Grade Seven student Dorothy Arket was thankful for the training, saying she realises the importance of saving money.
“On behalf of Dapu Primary School, we want to thank you for the financial education, for giving us this training to know how to budget the money to look after our future,” she said.
Cathleen Biai, from Ward Five, Vanimo-Green LLG, said the training has made her realise how much she wastes on unnecessary items such as betelnut and cigarette.
She now plans to cut down on those expenses and run a small business.
The financial education program has reached over 190,000 people – 40 percent of whom are women.