On November 18, a volunteer team of international graduate students from the School of Finance and Economics partnered with a Zhenjiang community center to conduct a "Financial Literacy for All" outreach program. The initiative aimed to provide basic personal finance education to elderly residents and small business owners in the local neighborhood. The student volunteers, hailing from countries with diverse economic backgrounds, prepared bilingual presentations and simple interactive workshops covering topics such as budgeting, recognizing common financial scams, digital payment security, and the basics of savings and insurance.
The event was met with enthusiastic participation. The international students not only shared knowledge but also engaged in meaningful cross-generational and cross-cultural dialogues. They listened to the community members' experiences and adapted their explanations to be culturally relevant and easily understandable. "This was more than a teaching experience; it was a profound lesson in communication, empathy, and the real-world application of our studies," shared Arif Rahman, a volunteer from Bangladesh.
This community outreach program exemplifies the School's commitment to social responsibility and service-learning. It allowed international students to step outside the campus bubble, contribute positively to their host community, and gain a grassroots understanding of financial behaviors and needs in a local Chinese context. The activity strengthened town-gown relations and provided students with a unique perspective on the social dimension of finance, reinforcing the idea that financial knowledge is a vital tool for community empowerment and well-being.