When I first heard that 75,000 UAE students are part of a “Young Investor Programme” mixing classroom learning with real investing practice, I thought—why can’t we do this at home? This initiative, launched by National Bonds alongside the Knowledge Fund, isn’t just talks about money—it puts financial awareness into action.

Think about it. Our teens are genius at navigating apps and streaming culture—but ask them about budgeting, saving, or the magic of compound interest, and they’re often silent. Here, they’re asking, “What’s an investment? Should I invest in stocks or bonds?” That speaks volumes.

Real financial literacy isn’t about giving pocket money—it’s about opening a conversation. Imagine our teens asking: “If I save EGP 50/month, what can that grow into? How long until I can buy my own laptop?” When school becomes preparation for life, we’ve hit gold.

The UAE program combines theory with hands-on activities. It’s not just personal finance to check off a requirement—it’s real budgeting, real investing, real questions. That kind of learning sticks.

In Egypt, the building blocks exist. The Central Bank and universities partner for awareness programs. Banks like Al Baraka educate 9,500+ students in financial essentials. But none yet on the scale of a nationally integrated school-based investor project.

As parents, we can fill in the gap. Start at home: open youth savings accounts, explore investing apps with them, simulate stock gambles with pocket money. Turn chatting about allowance into investing insights: “If you tracked your EGP 100 monthly allowance, you’d see spending habits—and saving power—right away.”

We also need to talk about mistakes. Real talk: What if your teen invests in crypto or stocks that drop? That’s part of learning. Healthy failure is the best teacher.

Finally, frame financial literacy as freedom, not restriction. It’s about choice. When your teen asks why they should save, they’re saying, “I want independence.” That’s powerful.

So yes, it’s inspiring to see UAE schools take this leap. But the real momentum starts at home—where allowance becomes awareness, chores become saving lessons, and pocket money becomes power.

Let’s bring that spirit into our homes. Because when teens understand money today, they build better futures tomorrow.