Gamifying Financial Education with Fintr

In a society where financial literacy is often overlooked, two passionate individuals, Elijah Djan and Danei Rall, saw a unique opportunity to rethink financial education. Raised in households where money wasn’t a standard or positive topic of conversation, Elijah and Danei pursued financial independence, a journey that inspired their commitment to address the widespread lack of financial literacy, particularly in South Africa.

The Spark of Innovation

In 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Elijah and Danei entered an ideation competition to address societal issues exacerbated by the crisis. They identified financial illiteracy as a major challenge that causes significant stress and hardship. Recognising the need for a tangible solution, they began working on ideas to ease this burden. After several iterations and refinements, they officially launched Fintr in 2023—an EdTech solution dedicated to teaching children essential financial skills through engaging games and interactive experiences.

Fintr was born from the realisation that financial illiteracy affects two-thirds of the global population. This issue is particularly concerning as financial habits are often formed during childhood, yet many parents lack the confidence or tools to teach these crucial skills. Fintr bridges this gap by making financial education accessible, fun, and tailored to children to help them develop positive money habits early in life.

Introducing Fintr4Schools and FinMaster

Fintr4Schools, Fintr’s digital platform, fights financial illiteracy by offering schools an interactive, gamified way to teach essential financial skills in the classroom. Through real-world scenarios, children can enjoy practising money management and decision-making in a safe, engaging environment.

Fintr has also created a board game called FinMaster, which guides children through vital financial concepts like investing and asset accumulation. In addition to classroom learning, parents can bring FinMaster into their homes to further enhance their children's financial literacy education. This investment in their children's future helps families build lifelong money skills in a fun and practical way, ensuring a sustainable economic future for the next generation.

The founders strongly believe in cultivating what they call “money superpowers”—the vital skills that empower children to manage their finances, make informed decisions, and create opportunities for themselves and their communities. This belief is a call to action, with Fintr’s long-term vision being for every child to grow up equipped with the financial knowledge required to make sound decisions as they mature.

Fintr’s Bold Vision for the Future

Fintr’s mission extends beyond simply teaching children how to manage money. It is about fostering lifelong habits that will enable individuals, families, and communities to thrive. With their innovative approach, Fintr is redefining financial education, setting a new standard for how future generations will learn about money. Elijah and Danei’s journey from financial knowledge sharing to creating Fintr reflects their dedication to improving financial literacy, one game at a time.

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Fintr is part of the 2024 Injini Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship Program.

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