Honours Academy x BGCA: Financial Innovation Camp — Young Pioneers’ Big Adventure

On 26 April 2025, Honours Academy hosted the Financial Innovation Camp: Young Pioneers’ Big Adventure at the HSUHK Campus, co-organised by The Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs Association of Hong Kong’s Community Creativity Learning Centre (BGCA CCLC). This event marked the fifth edition of the HA x BGCA: Pre-Teens Financial Literacy Workshop Series (one of the shortlisted projects in the “Developing Emerging Skills and Competencies Award” category at the 2024 QS Reimagine Education Awards), dedicated to empowering twenty-four young minds, primarily ranging from Primary 2 to Form 1, with essential financial literacy.

This year’s workshop featured two engaging sessions with fresh ideas and interactive experiences. The young participants began with a series of social stimulation booth games that allowed them to earn “money”, adding a realistic economic dimension to the experience. New booths included supermarket shopping simulations, action-packed shooting and throwing games, and a creative drawing station, all designed to make learning about finances fun and engaging. A highlight was the banking booth, where participants could deposit their hard-earned “money” to earn interest — a simple yet powerful way to introduce the concept of saving and long-term financial planning.

The second session showcased the innovative Life Simulation Board Game, a signature HA creation, with mini lectures, structured into three stages: secondary school, university life, and early career. Each stage presented different financial challenges and decisions, reflecting real-life experiences. Participants navigated scenarios that required strategic thinking and financial planning, from managing school expenses to making early career choices.

One of the most inspiring aspects of the whole event was the collaborative effort among HA students from different cohorts. Originally developed by the inaugural 1st and 2nd cohorts in 2022, the workshop has since grown through the mentorship and innovation of newer cohorts. This year, leadership was taken up by Yoyo Chung (3rd cohort), and Charis Kong (5th cohort), supported by a dedicated team from the 4th and 5th cohorts, namely Nicole Chan, Chloe Lee and Tracy Cheng from the 4th cohort, Rita Chui, Samantha Lee, Charmaine Leung, Faustine Yam, Cathy Yu, Helen Zeng, Niki Zhao, and Yan Zhuang from the 5th cohort. This transfer of foundational knowledge allowed for seamless integration of activities, fostering strong bonds among student organisers.

We extend our appreciation to the participants and their families, the staff from BGCA CCLC, the founding head and heads of HA, HA students, and all other supporting staff members, whose contributions ensured the successful conduct of the event, providing a meaningful experience for everyone.

The Financial Innovation Camp embodies HA’s dedication to nurturing financial literacy and community engagement among youth. By using the creative resources developed by HA students, including the dynamic board game, HA will continually strive for betterment and explore collaborative platforms.