Entrepreneurship Support

A few years ago, an important question arose in Ukraine: how can we teach young people to manage money responsibly, understand financial risks, and make informed economic decisions? Despite the growing interest in financial literacy and youth entrepreneurship, the school system lacked modern teaching materials. There were no trained teachers who could explain complex financial concepts in a simple and practical way.

For KredoBank JSC and its corporate foundation KredoBank Foundation, this was not only a social challenge but also a strategic one. As a responsible bank with European values, KredoBank understood the long-term impact of this problem. A low level of financial literacy among young people today creates risks for economic stability in the future. Without basic knowledge about saving, credit, investment, and entrepreneurship, a generation grows up unprepared for responsible financial decisions.

Therefore, the company set an ambitious goal – to change this situation through education. It decided to create an accessible, modern, and practical financial education system for school students.

The educational project “Courage to Be” on financial literacy and entrepreneurship for school students and teachers is implemented by KredoBank JSC and its corporate foundation in partnership with KredoBank Foundation. This initiative has become unique in Ukraine. The bank chose not to limit itself to one-time educational events. Instead, it created a long-term and systematic financial education and entrepreneurship development ecosystem for young people.

In 2023, the “Courage to Be” platform was launched, combining education, mentorship, motivation, and the practical development of financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills. Its goal is to prepare children and teenagers for conscious personal finance management, to foster entrepreneurial thinking, and to promote a culture of responsible decision-making – including the creation of their own business projects.

In two years, the project built an active community of financial literacy and entrepreneurship ambassadors. Teachers, trainers, community leaders, and students joined the initiative. The project reached 100 schools and more than 10,000 school students. They took part in trainings, educational programs, practical workshops, and business idea competitions.

The first step was the development of an original curriculum “Entrepreneurship and Financial Literacy” for grades 8–9. The curriculum includes 8 modules and 56 topics. It was created together with teachers and financial experts. The program follows the principles of SDG 4: Quality Education and the competency-based approach of the New Ukrainian School.

At the same time, methodological guidelines for teachers were developed: 32 topics for grade 8 and 24 topics for grade 9. The project also produced animated videos, expert podcasts, and a comic book “About Finance. The Right Way” with 28 chapters. These materials explain complex financial topics in simple language.

“We wanted financial literacy to stop being an abstract concept,” says Solomiya Hovorukha, Head of the KredoBank Foundation. “When a child understands how money works, how prices are formed, or how credit functions, they grow up responsible, proactive, and confident. This approach not only strengthens financial awareness but also fosters entrepreneurial skills, particularly among young people, preparing them to launch their own projects and actively participate in the economy. This is how an economically resilient and entrepreneurially active society is built.”

The next stage focused on teacher training. Three author lecture competitions were held, where 100 teachers presented over 50 practical topics. Additionally, 70 teachers completed soft skills development trainings. This part of the project helped address the shortage of qualified staff by providing educators with modern knowledge, teaching materials, and confidence in delivering the new subject.

The practical dimension of the project became its key advantage. Participants do not only gain theoretical knowledge; they also have the opportunity to apply it in real life. That is why “Courage to Be” actively combines learning with practical interaction with business, the development of entrepreneurial skills, and the creation of their own projects.

As part of the project, two large-scale “Business for Youth” conferences were held, bringing together over 1,200 school students from 80 schools in Lviv. The conferences featured leaders of Ukrainian business, company owners, financial experts, banking executives, and representatives of innovative startups. The live dialogue format allowed school students to: gain their first experience in business communication, learn real-life stories of company creation, discuss career paths, financial risks, and personal responsibility with entrepreneurs, build motivation to take action and develop their own initiatives.

One of the central elements of practical learning was the business ideas competition for school students. The competition combines creative thinking, teamwork, and the basics of financial planning. It was held in two stages:

• Pilot stage in Lviv: 48 teams (over 200 school students) participated, presenting their own business projects in education, ecology, technology, and social entrepreneurship.
• National stage: the initiative scaled up to 212 teams from 23 regions of Ukraine (approximately 660 school students).

Projects were evaluated by business and finance experts, and finalists received not only mentoring support but also the opportunity to implement their ideas.

All these steps were carried out in close collaboration with local communities, educators, and entrepreneurs (including YBC Lviv), who conducted a series of meetings with more than 25 schools. This format allowed young people to see how theory turns into real economic practice – from an idea to a business.

In an exceptionally short period – just two years of active implementation – the educational project “Courage to Be” has become one of the largest and most dynamic financial literacy and youth entrepreneurship initiatives in Ukraine.

Its results already have a significant impact on the educational environment in Lviv and at the national level. Specifically:

• 87 schools in Lviv joined the project and introduced financial education into their curricula;
• 8 educational modules (56 topic blocks) were developed as part of the model financial literacy program;
• 56 methodological guidelines were prepared for teachers to conduct financial literacy lessons;
• 3 author lecture competitions, 2 educational conferences, and 2 national stages of the business ideas competition for students were held;
• Modern educational materials were created, including animated videos, themed podcasts, and the comic book “About Finance. The Right Way”;
• 70 teachers completed specialized soft skills trainings, essential for modern teaching and effective interaction with students;
• The project’s initiatives reached over 10,000 children;
• 100 educational institutions became financial literacy ambassadors within the “Courage to Be” project.

These results demonstrate that the project not only takes a systematic approach to youth financial education but also creates a real platform for change with a long-term impact.

Thanks to these steps, the project has created opportunities for quality education, the development of entrepreneurial potential, and economic independence – regardless of region or social status.

Moreover, the cooperation between KredoBank JSC, the KredoBank Foundation, educational institutions, entrepreneurs, and local communities serves as a vivid example of how effective partnerships can drive sustainable social and economic development.

Without this initiative, hundreds of teachers and thousands of school students would not have had access to practical financial education tools. Furthermore, the ongoing reform of the school financial literacy and youth entrepreneurship curriculum in Ukraine would not have had a tested and ready-to-use foundation.

The educational project “Courage to Be” shows that investing in education is an investment in sustainable development and a resilient future for the country. Created by KredoBank and its Foundation, it demonstrates how responsible business can foster an environment of change – by developing the financial culture, entrepreneurial spirit, and confidence of a new generation of Ukrainians.