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The financial literacy skills of children across the country were given a big boost yesterday, and pre-schoolers at 12 Lollipops centres (36 of Evolve’s early childhood education centres) were some of the lucky recipients.

BNZ’s ‘Closed for Good’ initiative - the largest single corporate volunteering day in New Zealand – saw BNZ banks nationwide shut up shop and head out into their local communities to share their expertise.  This year’s ‘Closed for Good’ (now in its ninth year) focussed on building skills in pre-schoolers, teenagers and the elderly.

Groups of 3 – 5 year olds from our centres in Dunedin all the way up to Auckland were taught the difference between needs and wants, in an interactive digital story about Penny the Penguin, a keen sailor on a mission to fix her broken boat. With only four stars to trade for supplies, she has to make wise decisions in order to get what she needs.

The children joined Penny on her journey, helping her through the decision-making process and learning first-hand the benefits of making smart choices.

Evolve Education Group digital and marketing manager, Tamarin Hart dropped in on a few of the participating centres throughout the day and was delighted with what she saw. “It was phenomenal! The story was so beautiful, and the kids were all so engaged. They even got to come away with little stickers to show they’d taken part”.

Lollipops Tauranga

Lollipops St Lukes

Lollipops Millennium Ellerslie

Lollipops Newton Road

Lollipops Takanini