Hopi
Credit Association (HCA) is very proud to announce they have received
a grant award for the second time from the Native Youth and Culture
Fund which is sponsored by First Nations Development Institute of
Longmont, Colorado. The $10,200 of grant funds received helps Hopi
HCA to continue with their annual summer Youth Financial Literacy
Camp.
For
the past three years the camp has offered Hopi youth financial education
through interactive activities that help them understand concepts
such as building a healthy economy, budgeting skills, checking and
savings accounts, and understanding credit. HCA's financial education
curriculum is based on blending American culture with traditional
Hopi-Tewa values. HCA believes that a financial education curriculum
designed to teach Hopi-Tewa youth basic financial skills is the
first step towards building assets and will lead to greater economic
self-determination for the Hopi-Tewa people and community.
The
camp was coordinated and presented by Alissa Charley, Financial
Educator for Hopi Credit Association. Charley also invited the following
guest speakers to help with the 19 hour training course: Stanford
Lomakema - Budgeting in Hopi Culture, King Honani Sr. - Local Economy,
and Virginia Sangster, Wells Fargo - Checking and Savings Accounts.
"Some
of the activities included goal setting posters, where each participant
developed their own personal goals for their future and creatively
put them on poster boards to help remind them each day of what they
are working towards. Budget activities included role playing where
each participant developed a budget based on the lifestyle they
dreamed to live and then they were given fictitious jobs, children
and life situations that affected their ideal life style. Participants
had to make decisions and change their budgets to fit their new
situations. Participants were encouraged to speak to their families
about what they learned each day and to pass the information on
to their peers," said Charley.
The
2011 camp was held July 18 to 21. Each participant was between the
ages of 14-18. Participants who completed the program received $50
to help them begin their own savings account. The 2011 youth attendees
were: Dale Lomakema, Ciara Scott, Lori Honyaoma, Cheri Jean Joe,
Mylee Dennis, Brittany Koiyaquaptewa, Bridgett Leslie, Adrian Balbin,
Annalyssa Begay, Dominic Sinquah, Ashley Onsae, Malcolm Mowa, Alexis
Kahe, and Ryan Sinquah
HCA
provides on-going financial education to adults as well as youth.
Each year classes are held for the general public or can be requested
for a specific group or program. Financial education can also be
provided on an individual basis. If you would like more information
on the camp or to request for financial education, please contact
Alissa Charley at (928) 738-2205.
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