Barclays Provides Funding for Fourth Year in Support of Children International’s Aflateen Program in the Philippines
Children International Is Teaching Teens About Social and Financial Education With Barclays’ Support
Kansas City, MO/Singapore, May 27, 2014 /3BL Media/ - Barclays has committed for a fourth year to supporting Children International’s innovative Aflateen program in the Philippines, furthering the bank’s aim of helping 5 million young futures by 2015.
This investment, US$165,000 to date, has been agreed in order to enhance the enterprise, employability and financial skills of young people.
Aflateen is the name given to the Aflatoun program tailored specifically for teenagers. Like Aflatoun, the program teaches social and financial education while also empowering youth to think deeper about themselves and the world around them. The concepts learned are incorporated into practical activities, such as creating savings clubs, developing new enterprises and initiating community activities.
Barclays has helped more than 125,000 young people gain financial knowledge and develop life skills through their funding of Aflatoun programs in Asia, including thousands of youth in Children International’s Aflateen program in the Philippines. Children International participants actively save money and implement social and financial enterprise projects of their own. These projects can include the making and selling of accessories, food or other items, community cleanup drives and tree-planting activities. Recently, youth in Children International’s Aflateen program in Manila supported victims of Typhoon Haiyan by collecting and packing donated goods at a volunteer facility.
“Children International is pleased to have Barclays’ support in bringing this important program to our youth in the Philippines,” said Jack McCanna, Children International’s vice president of Program Services. “Because of Aflateen, these youth will have the financial knowledge and life skills they need to be successful.”
Wendy Lai, Head of Community Investment, Asia Pacific, Barclays, said the program was a valuable addition to the bank’s 5 million young futures goal: “Children International has an excellent track record of empowering young people to take control of their own destinies. Committing for a fourth year to the scheme is testament to results we see being generated in the Philippines.”
Learn more about Children International's work in the Philippines.
About Children International
Children International prepares children and youth to escape the traps of poverty by supporting their critical needs, building resilience, and engaging them in transformative activities. Children International accomplishes this by providing crucial benefits and compassionate care through easily accessible, modern community centers. Children International’s presence, programs and supporters have a positive impact on children, youth, families and communities; provide protection; encourage self-sufficiency; and serve as catalysts for change.
For more information about Children International, visit www.children.org.
Follow Children International on Facebook and Twitter.
About Barclays
Barclays is a major global financial services provider engaged in personal banking, credit cards, corporate and investment banking and wealth and investment management with an extensive international presence in Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia. Barclays’ purpose is to help people achieve their ambitions – in the right way.
With over 300 years of history and expertise in banking, Barclays operates in over 50 countries and employs approximately 140,000 people. Barclays moves, lends, invests and protects money for customers and clients worldwide.
For further information about Barclays, please visit our website barclays.com.
For more information:
Christy Howard
Corporate Communications
Children International
Direct: (816) 943-3730
Email: choward@children.org
Brittany Gelbach
Public Relations
Children International
Direct: (816) 943-3832
Email: bgelbach@children.org
John McGuinness
Corporate Communications, SE Asia
Barclays
Direct: (+65) 63083490
Email: john.mcguinness@barclays.com
