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 (JAH). Together with this year's support of $130,000, the Citi Foundation has donated a total of $940,000 to Junior Achievement Hungary and altogether 110,000 pupils in 250 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, "We've received much positive feedback from the program participants which justify the importance of teaching finance and economics in the primary school. Obviously, all the materials developed in partnership with JAH are adopted to be suitable to pupils' age and are providing basic knowledge through an interesting and interactive set of games. We are confident that those students whose financial awareness and interest we can raise at an early stage of life will be able to handle their finances in a more responsible and efficient way when they become adults, which would be a desirable attitude for the entire population."

The program includes setting up and running small student enterprises, beside the economics, finance, mathematics and English language DVD teaching materials. A modern laptop and a projector 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 on 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 year 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."