It was a moment that captured the deeper purpose of the project — financial skills not as abstract knowledge, but as a tool for building futures.

By the end of the program’s first phase, 83% of participants reported feeling more confident about handling money, several had created personal savings plans, and some were exploring ways to turn their ideas into microbusinesses. In September, the project will culminate in a “Social Entrepreneur Bootcamp” and pitch competition, where participants will compete for practical prizes like tablets — a celebration of the skills, confidence, and resilience they’ve built together.

The project bridged a critical skills gap for SOS youth transitioning out of alternative care by providing practical, real-world financial knowledge often missing from formal education. It created a safe, supportive space for learning and inspired participants to think critically about money management and entrepreneurship.

It created lasting teaching resources, including workbooks and activity kits, now reused for the SOS Children’s Villages YouthCan! YouthLinks platform, and augmented to the local realities of other countries in Latin America and Serbia

A Social Entrepreneur Bootcamp is scheduled to give SOS participants hands-on experience in designing, pitching, and refining a business idea.

Impact on the people helped

Participants reported feeling more confident in managing money, distinguishing between needs and wants, and making informed financial decisions. They developed teamwork and communication skills, and several expressed interest in starting small community-based businesses. They discussed positive aspects and gaps in their support, fears related to stability and independent living, and how to navigate adulthood. I conducted numerous anonymous questionnaires before and after the workshops to measure confidence levels, prior knowledge, and feedback. Participants showed an 83% increase in knowledge and confidence, although some systemic insecurities still remain – but I always say, even if we can’t fix the system with a magic wand, we can equip youth with the tools to navigate it and plant the seed for them to become future changemakers in their community. Some were given a platform to discuss their backgrounds and concerns openly, and these were addressed. Some participants even expressed interest and asked how they could apply for UWC. The UWC volunteers broadened their horizons by seeing different realities. Since it was a hybrid model with some workshops held on the UWCCR campus and others at the SOS Village in Santa Ana, the youth had many opportunities to interact with each other. By the end of the program, we even hosted a friendly football match to foster friendships beyond the workshops.