Your Future, Your Responsibility – Start Saving NOW! 

 Have you ever thought about what your life will look like years from now? The truth is, your future depends on what you do TODAY! 

Many of us are so focused on our daily hustle that we forget to secure tomorrow. Imagine reaching your golden years without the peace of mind that financial security brings. It’s time to change that! 

We’re here to guide you with "Building a Savings Culture for Pension" – a life-changing course that empowers young professionals and small business owners to take charge of their future! 

Duration: 6 Weeks (Flexible for customization)

Course Objectives:

• Understand the importance of saving for the future, with a focus on pensions.
• Learn financial management skills tailored for youth and small enterprises.
• Explore pension schemes and savings options suitable for different income levels.
• Develop strategies to embed a savings culture into daily financial practices.

Target Audience:

• Youth aged 18–35 including students - TVETS, University graduates, 
• Self Employed, Owners and managers of small and micro-enterprises

Week 1: Introduction to Financial Literacy and the Importance of Saving

• Objectives:
  • Understand the basics of financial literacy.
  • Learn why saving is essential for personal and business financial security.
• Topics:
  • Financial literacy concepts.
  • Types of savings: short-term vs long-term.
  • The value of disciplined saving.
  • Risks of not saving (inflation, emergencies, retirement).
• Activities:
  • Financial health self-assessment.
  • Group discussions on barriers to saving.

Week 2: Pensions 101 – What You Need to Know

• Objectives:
  • Introduce pension systems and their role in long-term financial security.
  • Learn the different types of pension schemes available.
• Topics:
  • What is a pension? Defined benefit vs. defined contribution.
  • Public, private, and individual pension plans.
  • The role of the government and private sector in pensions.
  • The importance of starting early.
• Activities:
  • Case study on pension success stories.
  • Guest speaker session (financial planner or pension expert).

Week 3: Budgeting and Financial Planning for Long-Term Savings

• Objectives:
  • Learn how to budget effectively with savings goals in mind.
  • Create a personal or business budget that includes pension savings.
• Topics:
  • Understanding income, expenses, and cash flow.
  • Setting savings goals for personal and business needs.
  • Budgeting techniques (50/30/20 rule, zero-based budgeting).
  • Savings plans and pension integration.
• Activities:
  • Hands-on budget creation exercise.
  • Group work on challenges in balancing short-term needs with long-term goals.

Week 4: Pension Schemes for Small Enterprises and Self-Employed Individuals

• Objectives:
  • Explore pension options tailored to small businesses and self-employed individuals.
• Topics:
  • Pension plans and saving schemes for entrepreneurs and freelancers.
  • Understanding the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and other private pension options.
  • Contribution strategies for small businesses.
• Activities:
  • Group discussions on choosing the right pension plan.
  • Case studies on successful pension plans for small enterprises.

Week 5: Overcoming Barriers to Saving and Pension Contributions

• Objectives:
  • Identify common barriers to saving and strategies to overcome them.
  • Develop habits for consistent saving.
• Topics:
  • Psychological and cultural barriers to saving.
  • Myths about pensions and saving.
  • Tools and apps for managing savings.
• Activities:
  • Role-playing to navigate barriers to saving.
  • Brainstorming session on innovative savings techniques (digital apps, mobile banking).

Week 6: Embedding a Long-Term Savings Culture in Daily Life and Business

• Objectives:
  • Learn techniques to cultivate a saving culture within businesses and personal life.
  • Understand how saving for pensions affects long-term business growth.
• Topics:
  • Creating a personal and business savings policy.
  • Encouraging employee pension contributions.
  • Long-term financial planning beyond retirement.
  • Legal and tax implications of pension savings.
• Activities:
  • Group project: Designing a savings and pension plan for a small business.
  • Final presentations on saving strategies.

Assessment:

• Weekly assignments based on real-life financial scenarios.
• Final project: Developing a personalized or business savings and pension plan.
• Participation in group discussions and activities.

Resources:

• Financial planning apps and calculators.
• Case studies on pension schemes.
• Articles on youth and savings behavior in Africa.

Email: skills@bditcollege.org