Financial Literacy - How to make finance an accessible tool for everyone
My experience with the Financial Literacy Project gave me a new perspective on the power of accessible education. Seeing how women from all backgrounds - including those with limited literacy - could learn, participate, and grow in confidence was really inspiring. It reminded me that inclusion is more than giving an opportunity; it’s about making sure that opportunity is truly accessible to everyone.
Building confidence through accessible programmes
My first memory from attending the assessments is how participants who could not read or write were fully supported. Facilitators guided them step by step throughout the questions, ensuring that every woman could complete the programme and gain knowledge in managing both her finances and her business. Seeing this in action showed me how carefully the sessions were designed to be inclusive. It was there that I realized what inclusivity means in practice: making sure no one is left behind, regardless of their abilities or background.
When I first arrived for the workshops, the first thing I noticed was children playing outside, with someone from Inclusive Cambodia. I immediately noticed how carefully the sessions had been planned to be accessible to everyone. When I walked into the room, I saw dozens of participants, fully participating in the course. I realized how important it was that the organisers had anticipated and addressed many practical needs—from childcare to other small but essential arrangements—so that women could attend without worrying about it. Removing these small issues allows participants to focus entirely on learning with the programme.
Beyond these practical aspects, it was clear how crucial economic empowerment and financial education are for women, whether they were just starting out or already running businesses. Through the workshops and the support provided, I observed how the project helps women living in poverty take concrete steps to manage and grow their businesses. Inclusivity remained a constant focus throughout the sessions, allowing every woman to fully benefit from the programme.
Empowering the Next Generation
During the sessions, I noticed that the facilitators were not only Inclusive Cambodia staff, but also the young women from the community acting as facilitators who could read and write. They helped older participants complete the programme’s assessments, guiding them through the assessment’s questions. After all the participants had gone home, we spent time talking with the Inclusive Cambodia staff and the young women acting as facilitators. They shared many ideas for supporting their communities, from developing silk-related activities on Koh Dach to attracting tourists. Watching them discuss and think together, I realized how important it is to give young women a voice and involve them in planning and shaping these projects, allowing their ideas to influence real initiatives in their communities.
Having members of the community provide this assistance also shows an important part of the programme: its sustainability. By involving the community not just as participants, but also in running and supporting the sessions, the knowledge and skills can stay within the community. The participants from the community can continue to help others, share what they have learned, and keep the programme going over time!
Then, if this literacy spreads through the community -thanks to former participants and the girls helping out with the sessions - it can become a norm, with the community benefiting from everyone’s experience and knowledge. The girls themselves would then be able to carry out projects for Koh Dach, like the initiatives they had discussed!
This summer, Inclusive Cambodia partnered with the ASEAN Foundation and the Maybank Foundation to develop and deliver its Financial Literacy curriculum to women entrepreneurs living in poverty.
By Lisa Delabre
