Contas à Vida, Portugal
In the classroom
The aims
Helping 500 young people across the country consider the financial implications of their choices in education, training and employment.
Our youngsters learned many things from the scheme and assured us that from now on they will pay much more attention to money issues.
The story
Barclays Portugal’s Contas à Vida (Accounts for Life) project helps young people understand how to manage their money and deal with financial challenges.
More than 300 participants have learned the basics of budgeting and the importance of financial planning from a team of Barclays volunteers since the programme launched in early 2008.
The nationwide scheme concentrates not just on financial acumen, but also on helping 14 to 18-year-old trainees in developing their social and interpersonal skills. The aim is to help young people from underprivileged communities find ways to achieve financial independence, confidence and a route to a better future.
Adelaide Correia, Facilitator for the Boa Onda (Good Mood) programme in Loulé, Algarve, said: “Our youngsters learned many things from the scheme and assured us that from now on they will pay much more attention to money issues.”
Results to date
Since its launch, 24 Barclays volunteers have taken part in the programme, promoting the Barclays brand throughout Portugal. Contas à Vida has also received extensive press coverage.
