Sandton Fun Factory earns global recognition for early childhood financial literacy programme
The financial literacy programme focuses on financial inclusion and equips teachers to foster early financial understanding, addressing critical needs in the ECD workforce.
Sandton Fun Factory is celebrating a major milestone after its financial literacy programme received international recognition, marking a significant step forward in its mission to reshape financial education at an early age.
The programme, which equips teachers at early childhood development (ECD) centres to introduce concepts like earning, saving, budgeting, donating, and banking to children aged three to six, has been awarded the prestigious Excellence In Financial Literacy Education (EIFLE) Award by the Institute for Financial Literacy in America, an achievement CEO Mariana Naude describes as both unexpected and deeply meaningful. “We were recently recognised for this programme on an international stage. That tell us that our programme is also recognised internationally as a programme that is accepted for the value it can bring to early childhood learning, especially towards creating more financially literate adults, and an adult population in future.
Read more: A new chapter in financial literacy for South Africas High School youth in Sandton
“So, with that great achievement, we are thankful, because it was never something that was actually planned by us, but it happens as we go along.”
Naude said since the programme was introduced in 2023, it has grown rapidly. Through a partnership with Discovery Bank, Sandton Fun Factory has begun rolling out the programme to 600 ECDs across the country. “In 2024, moving on to 2025, the intention was, at that time, to scale the programme to other ECD centres in the country, because of how important this is, not just for the children at the Santon Fun Factory, but across the country. More especially in disadvantaged areas, where this knowledge is sometimes scarce. It’s never brought to children.
“During 2025, we joined forces with Discovery Bank who supported the programme through the adult financial literacy programme that they run together with us. We are now providing training to teachers in 600 ECD centres across the country.”
Naude emphasised the importance of starting financial education early. “If you want to have a financially literate adult at the age of 18 you should start at three. That foundation is important, especially in communities where financial knowledge is not always accessible.”
@caxtonjoburgnorth WATCH: Sandton Fun Factory CEO Mariana Naude reflects on the programme’s international recognition and explains why teaching financial literacy from as early as three years old is key to shaping a more financially empowered generation. Video: Xoliswa Zakwe #Sandton #Fun ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North
Looking ahead, the Sandton Fun Factory plans to train educators at technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges. “Moving now on to the future, the question will be: Because there’s 600 ECD centres with about 20 000 children who benefit from the programme, what is next“Our focus for the next three years is to train the teachers at TVET colleges in South Africa. Because those teachers will get employment at some of these ECD centres where the programme runs and it makes them also probably better employable if they already know how this programme runs. They can make it part of their learning and teaching at these colleges.
Also read: Youth gets educated on financial literacy
“We’ve already trained 160 students in a TVET College in Bethlehem this year, and we will move to other colleges nationwide. In September, we will train our first school in Namibia, so that we can see how this programme is accepted and how it can benefit other countries.”
She urged ECD centres across the country to join in the programme, highlighting that the resources come at no cost. “We want more nursery schools across our country to join in. It is for free for anyone and we have resources in the form of storybooks that we’ve created that we can share digitally with these schools, and it’s free for anyone who wants to join.”
Details: contact Mariana Naude on 0724193363 or email mariana.naude@sandtonfunfactory.co.za.
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