Teaching Financial Literacy Through Storytelling
Today’s episode of Open Your Eyes highlighted the importance of teaching children about money management and entrepreneurship from an early age. Joining the conversation was Dr. Carol Babb, Executive Director of Peacework Belize, alongside Jadde Gomez, Administrative Secretary at Peacework Belize, to discuss the upcoming launch of Dr. Babb’s fourth book, Jacito Becomes an Entrepreneur.
The book continues the journey of Jacito, a young character first introduced in Jacito Learns to Save, using storytelling to help children and families understand financial literacy, saving, borrowing, and the fundamentals of entrepreneurship.
Dr. Babb explained that the early years of childhood are an important time to introduce financial knowledge and practical money management habits. She encouraged parents and caregivers to start with simple lessons, such as teaching children to save a portion of any money they receive and giving them a piggy bank they can take ownership of.
From Saving Money to Becoming an Entrepreneur
While earlier books in the series focus on saving, Jacito Becomes an Entrepreneur introduces children to the next step: creating opportunities to earn money and developing an entrepreneurial mindset.
Dr. Babb emphasized that entrepreneurship should be introduced to young people whether or not they eventually choose to own a business. The process helps develop critical thinking, resilience, leadership, discipline, and problem-solving skills.
She also encouraged people to examine their spending habits, prioritize saving where possible, and consider additional income opportunities when their earnings are not enough to meet their needs. She acknowledged that saving can be difficult, particularly with rising living costs, but stressed the importance of making thoughtful financial decisions.
Making Financial Literacy Relevant to Belizeans
Gomez, who illustrated the book, shared how working on the Jacito series has strengthened her own understanding of financial literacy. As a university student, she recognized that many young people are not necessarily exposed to these concepts in school.
She explained that the book introduces practical topics, including loans, micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) financing, and the requirements involved in applying for a business loan. The illustrations and language are designed to make these concepts accessible to children and relatable to Belizean readers.
The discussion also highlighted the importance of understanding local financial institutions and resources. Gomez pointed to credit unions and the Belize Trade and Investment Development Service (BELTRAIDE) as organizations that can help people seeking financial guidance and business development support.
Rather than simply providing children with answers, the series encourages them to research, ask questions, and learn through exploration.
A Book Launch and Continued Support for Financial Education
Jacito Becomes an Entrepreneur is scheduled to launch on Saturday, October 24, at 10:00 a.m. on the fourth floor of the Holy Redeemer Credit Union’s Jane Usher Building. The launch will feature Mr. Quiroz from BELTRAIDE as the keynote speaker.
Dr. Babb shared that credit union member-owners can request a copy at no cost. Arrangements are also being explored to make the book available through Angelus Press and DigiWallet.
Throughout the conversation, Dr. Babb acknowledged the support of Holy Redeemer Credit Union CFO Clement Usher and Marian Mars, who have supported her work on the book series.
Building Financial Confidence for the Future
The conversation reinforced the value of introducing financial literacy and entrepreneurship early, helping children develop habits and skills they can carry into adulthood.
Through the Jacito series, Peacework Belize continues to use storytelling to make financial education more accessible, encouraging young readers to save, make informed decisions, explore business ideas, and recognize opportunities to create income.
By making financial concepts relatable to Belizean children and families, the initiative aims to help build a stronger foundation for responsible money management and future entrepreneurship.
You Can Watch Today’s Episode Here
