The Citizen unveils animation series set to spark money conversations among children

Dar es Salaam. When many think of money, they often think of the complex and difficult aspects that are often associated with expertise in finance.

It is even more difficult when tasked with teaching young minds about money matters.

The Citizen is officially introducing young readers and viewers to Kids’ Finance – an educational avenue of content designed to tackle financial literacy for children.

Through the Kids’ Finance column, young minds have the opportunity to learn complex money matters while parents and teachers are afforded an innovative way to explain otherwise difficult concepts to kids.

Under the umbrella of Kids’ Finance, The Citizen presents the first of many modules called “ABCs of Finance” – a vibrant, youth-friendly series created to help children make sense of the fascinating world of money.

At the heart of this journey is Maya, a smart and curious young Tanzanian girl with a passion for learning and exploring. Each week, Maya takes children through engaging stories that revolve around earning, saving, spending, and sharing – all presented through everyday situations that young minds can relate to.

From colourful storytelling to culturally grounded experiences, this new animated feature brings financial literacy to life in a way that speaks directly to kids – using their imagination, language, and environment. The short episodes are designed to be fun, practical, and easy to follow, encouraging children to start thinking clearly about the choices they make when it comes to money.

“Kids Finance is a continuation of The Citizen’s commitment to equipping the next generation with essential financial literacy skills through engaging multimedia storytelling,” said MCL's Acting Executive Editor and The Citizen Managing Editor, Mr Mpoki Thomson.

“We began this journey with the Newspaper in Education initiative and took a major step forward with the launch of the Smart World weekly magazine in 2023. Kids Finance will be featured both in Smart World in print and across our digital platforms — including our website and social media pages. As we work to empower the nation, there's no better place to start than with our children,” Thomson added.

In further understanding the platform that is The Citizen, Kids’ Finance has been created in collaboration with the Tanzania Youth Entrepreneurship Experience (TYEE), an NGO that focuses on educating young minds on finance and entrepreneurship through bootcamps, training sessions and published books, among many.

Through their flagship product, ‘Kids Finance with Tracy’, author and Founder of TYEE, 15-year-old Tracy Rabi voices the character ‘Maya’ in the series ABCs of Finance, as she breaks down complex terms that are often associated with financial matters.

“Inspired by my entrepreneurial parents, I discovered the exciting world of business and finance through books. However, sharing my enthusiasm with friends revealed a problem—most of my peers had no interest or understanding of money and entrepreneurship,” she explains. “Frustrated and worried about their future, I decided to take action.”

“This partnership with The Citizen is a powerful step toward empowering more children and youth. Through fun and educational content, we aim to address financial illiteracy and help young people learn basic skills to save, invest, and grow their income,” says Tracy.

Catch Maya’s adventures every Saturday across The Citizen’s social media platforms, and dive deeper into her world each Tuesday in the Smart World magazine. Whether in the classroom, at home, or anywhere in between, Maya is opening up new, exciting ways for young people to learn about money – and have fun while doing it.

Let the journey begin...