​The Capital Market Authority’s financial literacy program for children “The Smart Investor” participated in the Global Money Week 2016 activities held between 14-20 March 2016.

The event is organized by Child and Youth Finance International (CYFI) on the second week of March each year and aims at empowering the next generation to be confident, responsible and skilled economic citizens. The event is held in over 80 countries worldwide with participating organizations and communities.

The 2016 Global Money Week theme was #TakePartSaveSmart, to highlight the importance of cost careful and smart habits among children.

"The Smart Investor" kicked off its activities during the Global Money Week by participating in The Riyadh International Book Fair. Organizers of "The Smart Investor" program distributed the program's saving boxes "Moneyboxes" to children and explained to them the concepts of managing money into 3 sections: spending, saving, charity. "The Smart Investor" also visited many schools in Riyadh where lectures and plays were presented to children. Students learned about saving and personal financial principles. Topics such as personal development, responsibility, learning, creativity, teamwork, and budget planning were also emphasized.

In addition, "The Smart investor" team  organized a trip for 40 students to the Saudi Stock Exchange. Students were briefed about the purpose of the exchange, how it operates, and the role it plays in the economy of Saudi Arabia. Organizers of the " program also visited The Disabled Children's Association and offered a seminar to children entitled "Financial Intelligence". The seminar focused on explaining the importance of saving and how to identify ways of money spending. Gifts were distributed to children participating in the activity at the end of the event.

During the Global Money Week, "The  Smart investor" also visited many malls in the capital and distributed "Moneyboxes" and saving tips materials to children. The program visited three malls in Riyadh:  Riyadh Gallery, Alnakheel Mall, Granada Center. The focus was to bring the attention to the importance of saving and managing money in informal way among youngsters.

As part of the program's efforts to enable youngsters to learn from the experience of entrepreneurs, "The Smart Investor" Program organized several meetings with Saudi entrepreneurs during the Global Money Week. Children were able to ask entrepreneurs questions as well as listen to their stories and learn from the hardships they endured to attain the wealth they earned today.

In addition,  a mobile exhibition for "The Smart Investor" was installed at King Abdullah National Park for children to draw, and view short presentations about proper money spending habits.  mobile exhibitions aim at raising awareness outside of the schools by interacting directly with children about the importance of financial planning and money spending habits. "The Smart Investor" material published by CMA were distributed at the exhibition as well.

The event concluded with the implementation of interactive campaigns on "The Smart Investor"'s social media networking sites such as Instagram and Twitter by inviting observers to participate in the selfie challenge of Global Money Week by taking a photograph of their participation and posting it in the formal hastag #GMWSelfie and also by publishing citations learned at Global Money Week activities on the hashtag #GMW2016.

CMA, represented by "The Smart Investor" program, has called on for  more efforts to raise financial literacy through the Global Money Week and to better interact with young people and children in all parts of the Kingdom, for the economic and financial prosperity of our country.