Another 15,000 pupils will now have access to innovative technology-based teaching materials in the 36 elementary schools across Hungary that are included in this year's Citibank Financial Education Program. Citibank Hungary launched this program in 2001 in partnership with Junior Achievement Hungary. Together with this year's support of $130,000, the Citi Foundation has donated a total of $810,000 to Junior Achievement Hungary and altogether 95,000 pupils in 214 schools in Hungary can now learn from the modern personal finance training materials donated through this program.

The aim of the program is to provide schools with modern, technology-based curriculum resources and innovative teaching strategies, which will increase students' knowledge, skills and performance in economics, mathematics, finance and English.

Batara Sianturi, Citi Country Officer for Citibank Zrt., said, "Three years ago Citi announced a $200 million 10-year global commitment to Financial Education. Our Citibank Financial Education School Program has been very successful over the past six years, so we decided to continue expanding it to more schools in more regions in Hungary. We believe that the earlier students start learning the basics of economics and finance - naturally, through interesting, interactive simulation games and exercises appropriate for their age - the easier it will be for them to meet the requirements and challenges of the modern age."

This year the program was enhanced to include setting up and running small student enterprises, beside the economics, finance, mathematics and English language DVD teaching materials. A state-of-the-art, large-screen computer and a modern laptop are also part of the package to provide the hardware for running the DVDs.

The educational DVD materials of economics and finance have been prepared by Junior Achievement Hungary based of their printed teaching materials developed in the US. These materials have been adapted to reflect Hungary's market environment and to meet the interests of Hungarian pupils.

The student enterprises program will teach students how to set up and run successfully a private small enterprise. They will also learn how to operate in an ethical way in this challenging market environment. Successful enterprises around the country will have the opportunity to introduce their products to the public in a Student Fair organized by Citibank and Junior Achievement Hungary next Spring in Budapest.

Orsolya Gergely, Managing Director of Junior Achievement Hungary, said: "We are delighted to be able to continue to expand this successful program with Citibank's help. It is always very rewarding to see the joy on the students' faces when they receive the educational package. I am sure most of them do not realize that what they have just received was far more than a one-off gift, but rather an opportunity to acquire knowledge and experience that will help them be successful later in their life."