There’s no better way to teach kids about money management than to have industry professionals share their knowledge and answer questions live in the classroom. As part of JA’s Dollars with Sense in-school learning experience, a group of volunteers from Questrade Financial Group headed into 20 classes across Central Ontario to do just that.  

We know that young people are excited about their futures, but they’re uncertain about how this could look for them. They’re aware of rising costs, environmental issues, changes in the workforce, and they want to know what this means for them, their siblings, and their families. JA’s Dollars with Sense supports grade 7 students as they tackle these important issues, helping them develop personal money management skills and a resilient mindset in a shifting economy.  

Brought to life by 35 volunteers from Questrade, this program combines interactive curriculum-aligned content with real-world examples. “It was awesome to see [students] so eager to tackle complex topics, and it reminded me how important it is to make learning engaging and fun,” says Philip Lengden, Senior Product Manager, Personal Finance Management.  

This fun, hands-on approach helps students understand complex concepts like budgeting, credit, and interest, as well as how to set their very own financial goals. These skills are vital as young people get ready to build their own futures. “As a volunteer, seeing how eager and involved the students were to learn how to save and invest money was inspiring. Being smart with money is an important skill to have,” says Ceilidh Parsons, Senior Talent Acquisition Partner, Tech.   

With a wealth of real-world experience and real passion for the subject, Questrade volunteers answered students' questions and helped them develop confidence in making their own financial decisions. “It’s beautiful to see how they [JA] are empowering young people to become more comfortable talking about money, understand our financial system at an early age, and make smart financial decisions.,” says Imoh Brandon, Senior Business Systems Analyst.   

Volunteering with JA is also an incredible way to give back to the community, and to learn something about yourself along the way. “Investor education was not something I was taught as a kid. This helped me connect with my childhood and experience the joy of setting kids up for a brighter future,” says Leo Khan, Wealth Management Associate.  

This personal connection to the subject helps financial literacy jump out of the textbook, showing students that they, too, have the power to shape their financial futures – a truly valuable lesson indeed!  

Find out more about JA Central Ontario’s volunteering opportunities here.