Jun 23, 2025 – Prestasi Junior Indonesia (PJI) was honored to be appointed by Citi Indonesia to organize its 20th annual Global Community Day (GCD) celebration. Under the theme “Investing in Youth, Empowering Communities,” PJI designed and delivered a month-long financial education initiative that equipped 300 high school students in Jakarta and Depok with practical financial literacy skills to build long-term financial resilience.

This program was Citi Indonesia’s way of celebrating two decades of GCD, a global initiative that engages Citi employees in community development activities. In Indonesia, Citi entrusted PJI—its long-standing partner in youth financial education—to bring the initiative to life by developing impactful learning experiences that address pressing financial literacy gaps among young people.

Findings from the 2024 National Financial Literacy and Inclusion Survey (SNLIK) by the Financial Services Authority (OJK) revealed that financial literacy and inclusion levels among youth aged 15–17 stand at only 51.70% and 57.96%, well below the national averages of 65.43% and 75.02%. This reality underscores the importance of PJI’s mission to strengthen financial capability at an early age.

Throughout June, students from SMA IAS Al-Jannah Depok, SMAN 7 Jakarta, and SMAN 35 Jakarta participated in engaging classroom sessions combining interactive lessons, case studies, and mentoring. Together with Citi Volunteers, PJI facilitators introduced essential concepts such as budgeting, saving, investing, and risk management. Students also joined panel discussions with financial experts to better understand the challenges faced by today’s youth in managing personal finances.

Batara Sianturi, Chief Executive Officer of Citi Indonesia, emphasized the significance of this collaboration:

“We believe that equipping young people with relevant financial skills creates long-term positive impact — not only for their personal future but also for the community and economy at large. Partnering with PJI allows us to translate Citi’s global commitment into impactful action for Indonesian youth.”

“Low levels of financial literacy often result in poor decision-making, such as falling into illegal online loans or fraudulent investment schemes,” said Robert Gardiner, Academic Advisor and Operations Counsel of Prestasi Junior Indonesia. “By leading Citi’s Global Community Day program, PJI provides students with contextual, hands-on learning experiences that empower them to make responsible financial decisions for their future.”

The program culminated in the Financial Innovation Challenge at Pacific Century Place, Jakarta, on June 23, 2025. Attended by representatives from OJK and the Jakarta Provincial Education Office, the event featured nine innovative financial solutions developed by students to address challenges in their communities. This closing activity not only encouraged creativity and teamwork but also nurtured students’ social awareness as emerging leaders.

As Citi Indonesia’s trusted partner, PJI is proud to contribute to the legacy of Global Community Day. By fostering financial literacy among youth, PJI continues to advance its commitment to preparing the next generation of Indonesians to thrive in a rapidly changing economic landscape.