Jakarta, June 18, 2026 — As the culmination of the Global Community Day (GCD) 2026 series, Citibank, N.A., Indonesia (Citi Indonesia) together with YCAB Foundation held #SmartMoneyTalksABLE, an inclusive financial literacy workshop for youths, including those with physical disabilities from several Special Schools (SLB) in DKI Jakarta. This activity aims to expand access to financial education, which is an important foundation for independence and improving quality of life.
Junior and senior high school students from various SLBs in the DKI Jakarta area, including WAFCAI (Wheelchair and Friendship Center of Asia Indonesia), SLBN 8 North Jakarta, and SLBN 9 Jakarta, participated in the GCD 2026 activities held at Pacific Century Place building, Jakarta (18/06/26), where the Citi Indonesia office is located. The #SmartMoneyTalksABLE activity was designed to be inclusive so that anyone, including youths with mobility impairments, could participate—addressing the challenge of access to inclusive financial education in Indonesia.
The #SmartMoneyTalksABLE workshop emphasizes interactive case study methods and group discussions that differ from conventional learning. Participants work together in teams to solve financial case studies and present their solutions before a panel of judges. The event was also enlivened with a ‘Happy Hour Booth’ that provided educational games and a Virtual Reality (VR) experience to reinforce financial concepts in a fun and inclusive way.
Previously, the GCD 2026 series was also filled with two other programs in June. The first program was ‘Digital Hustle, Financial Muscle’, a face-to-face meeting which equipped dozens of participants with skills to manage finances for workers and prospective workers with irregular income, including emergency fund management and basic investment.
An online training was also held, carrying the theme ‘Building Resilient Financial Futures’ which focused on education about managing cash flow and mitigating financial risks for hundreds of participants in West Java and Central Java.
Youth unemployment is an ongoing and pervasive issue. Despite recent progress, the International Labour Organization estimates that 65 million young people globally are unemployed.* In Indonesia, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) recorded an unemployment rate of approximately 7.26 million people as of February 2025. However, young people, including women, make up nearly half of the total unemployed in Indonesia, or nearly 50%.**
Fitrianti, S.IP., M.AP ., NLP, Head of the Early Childhood Education and Character Development Subdivision (PDPK), Early Childhood Education and Community Education Division, Jakarta Provincial Education Agency, highlighted the importance of ensuring equitable access to learning opportunities for all students, including students with disabilities. “The Jakarta Provincial Government welcomes the collaboration between Citi Indonesia and YCAB Foundation in delivering inclusive financial education for students with disabilities. Financial literacy is an essential skill that young people need to develop in order to support their future independence. Through initiatives such as #SmartMoneyTalksABLE, we hope more students will gain access to equitable, relevant, and quality learning opportunities. This program reflects the importance of cross-sector collaboration in fostering an inclusive education ecosystem and empowering young people to participate actively in social and economic life, said Fitrianti.
Hario Widyananto, Country Head of Public Affairs, Citi Indonesia, conveyed the importance of collaborating with various parties in equipping the young generation with financial literacy. “As a global bank, the annual celebration of Global Community Day is Citi’s ongoing commitment to contribute positively to the communities where we operate while also driving economic progress in Indonesia. As an extension of this commitment, Citi is proud to present the #SmartMoneyTalksABLE financial literacy workshop with YCAB Foundation to help the youths, including women and people with disabilities, develop their financial literacy so they can participate more broadly in building a more inclusive and sustainable future,” said Hario.
Chief Operating Officer of YCAB Foundation, Linda Sukandar, emphasized the importance of ensuring equal access to learning opportunities for all young people, including persons with disabilities. “This initiative is part of the collaboration between YCAB Foundation and Citi Indonesia to expand access to inclusive financial education for young people. Through this workshop, we hope that youth with disabilities can gain the financial knowledge and skills needed to support their independence, while also building the confidence to grow and participate actively in economic life,” said Linda.
Through the involvement of Citi Volunteers (a term for Citi employee volunteers) in the entire series of activities, participants had the opportunity to learn directly from professionals who shared their practical experiences and insights on financial management.
More than just a workshop, #SmartMoneyTalksABLE is expected to equip participants with the knowledge and confidence to manage their finances wisely, while also reinforcing the belief that every youth has the same opportunity to grow and achieve independence.