Aug 19, 2025 – Prestasi Junior Indonesia (PJI) has established a new collaboration with PT Henkel Indonesian (Henkel) to empower Indonesian youth through the financial literacy program GEMILANG: Generasi Muda Cerdik Kelola Uang (Smart Young Generation in Managing Money).

The activity took place at MTs Jamiatul Huda, Jakarta, where 96 ninth-grade students were actively engaged in six interactive sessions, supported by 12 Henkel volunteers on August 19 and 26, 2025. This initiative reflects PJI’s continuous commitment to equip young Indonesians with practical skills that will benefit their personal lives, families, and communities.

Early Financial Education Matters

The GEMILANG program, implemented through the JA More than Money curriculum, introduces students to the fundamentals of managing money, balancing needs and wants, and exploring simple business opportunities. Using an experiential learning approach, students gain not only theoretical knowledge but also hands-on practice that connects financial concepts to their daily lives.

According to the Financial Services Authority of Indonesia (OJK), the national financial literacy rate in 2025 stands at 65.43%, while financial inclusion has reached 80.51%. This gap highlights the urgent need to strengthen financial understanding from a young age.

“The greatest investment we can make is in our children. By introducing financial management concepts early, we hope they will grow into independent individuals, capable of making smart financial decisions and cultivating positive habits for their future,”
— Setiadi Sutanto, Head of Finance & Compliance ID, PT Henkel Indonesien

Market Day: Turning Ideas into Action

As the culmination of their learning, students participated in a Market Day, where 12 teams each received IDR 250,000 in seed funding to implement their business ideas. This activity not only sharpened their entrepreneurial mindset but also demonstrated how smart financial decisions directly influence the success of a venture.

“Through GEMILANG, we want to nurture awareness among young people that they play an important role as financial managers, smart consumers, and future entrepreneurs. This knowledge will be a long-term asset, helping them build a more secure financial future while spreading positive habits to those around them,”
— Pribadi Setiyanto, Chairman, Prestasi Junior Indonesia

A New Partnership for Greater Impact

This collaboration between PJI and Henkel marks the beginning of a shared journey to prepare Indonesia’s younger generation with strong financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills. By combining PJI’s expertise in education with Henkel’s resources and volunteer engagement, the GEMILANG program aims to inspire students to make smarter financial choices and explore opportunities that will shape their future success.