Why did 44% of young people not save money during the past year, and why would more than half have difficulty facing an emergency in Cali and the country?

NewsSavings among young people. Photo: WWB Colombia FoundationJOURNALIST06.11.2026 20:49 Updated: 06.11.2026 20:59 In Colombia, 44% of young people did not save money during the last 12 months, and 58% would have difficulty facing an economic emergency without resorting to loans or family help. For this reason, the WWB Colombia Foundation highlights the importance of strengthening financial education from early ages and is promoting 'Cash, el resurgir de los imperios' (Cash, the Resurgence of Empires), a video game that promotes learning about saving, investing, and money management. Savings among young people. Photo: WWB Colombia FoundationSaving to meet a goal, deciding how much to spend, understanding the interest on a loan, or setting aside money for an unexpected event are decisions that are part of everyday life. However, making them wisely requires knowledge and skills that are not always acquired during schooling. The results of the 2026 Financial Capabilities Survey, presented by Banca de las Oportunidades, highlight this challenge. Colombia scored 50.4 points out of 100 in financial capabilities, below the results recorded in 2013 (64.8) and 2019 (59.4). Among the most concerning aspects are the difficulties in understanding concepts such as interest rates: only one in five people correctly answered a question about simple interest, and only six out of 100 got right a question that combined simple and compound interest, the kind in which interest generates more interest. Savings among young people. Photo: WWB Colombia FoundationThese difficulties have consequences in daily life. Understanding how much a loan costs, distinguishing a need from a want, organizing expenses, and building savings to face unexpected events are skills that contribute to economic autonomy. Developing them from childhood and adolescence allows people to become familiar with these concepts before taking on greater financial responsibilities. Financial education becomes especially important during youth, a stage in which decisions about consumption, saving, and first incomes begin to be made. Having tools to evaluate options, anticipate consequences, and recognize risks can make a difference in how resources are managed throughout life. "We want to remind people of the importance of learning to manage money from early ages, because the financial decisions we make today can open up opportunities for the future," says Daniela Konietzko, president of the WWB Colombia Foundation. With that purpose in mind, two years ago the WWB Colombia Foundation and Banco W created Cash, el resurgir de los imperios, a video game that teaches young people aged 14 to 19 about saving, investing, and money management, as they overcome challenges and make decisions that impact their communities. "We want more and more young people to have the tools to make informed decisions, strengthen their economic autonomy, and build a future with greater opportunities. Because learning to save starting today is also learning to build tomorrow," adds Konietzko. Learning by doing: a commitment to youth financial education The initiative starts from a premise: for learning to connect with new generations, it is important to build experiences that speak to their interests, languages, and realities. That is why young people participated in the video game creation process, contributing to a pedagogical proposal designed with them and not merely for them. The game environment offers the possibility of trying alternatives, making decisions, and recognizing their consequences without risking real money. This hands-on experience facilitates the understanding of financial concepts and opens spaces to talk about situations that may arise in everyday life, both in the classroom and at home. The results reflect the reach of this commitment. Cash has recorded 8,814 players and has reached 45 educational institutions. In addition, 86.8% of those who completed the video game said they had improved their understanding of saving. The initiative also includes teacher training to incorporate the video game as a pedagogical resource and expand financial learning opportunities among new generations. "Financial education can no longer be something that is learned late and through mistakes. With Cash, we want girls, boys, and young people — and also adults who never had that opportunity — to practice decisions about saving, spending, and investing in a safe environment, where making a mistake does not cost real money. When people understand how money works, they make decisions with more autonomy and peace of mind, and that translates into households and communities that are better prepared to face unexpected events," says Sandra Duque, senior leader in Social Innovation for Development at the WWB Colombia Foundation. Cash's reach also extends to national education and innovation spaces. This month, the video game was a finalist in the Best Gamified Game category of the INN-GAME Awards, promoted by Ronda and the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. In addition, the initiative has participated in settings such as Global Money Week, the Shared Prosperity Forum, AFE, Dokuma, and TEDUCA, in Santa Marta. Together with Universidad Icesi, a bootcamp was also developed for young people that combined conversations about financial education with hands-on activities aimed at connecting this knowledge with daily life. Educating to decide better On World Savings Day, the Cash experience raises a point for reflection: learning to manage money requires opportunities to understand it, practice, and develop one's own judgment. Saving is part of that process, along with planning, responsible credit management, and the ability to anticipate economic difficulties. For the WWB Colombia Foundation, bringing financial education closer to girls, boys, and young people helps strengthen their capacity to make informed decisions and build their life projects. Through initiatives that combine social innovation, technology, and participation, the Foundation seeks to expand access to knowledge that fosters economic autonomy and the well-being of people and their communities. See more news Heavy rains caused flooding. Photo: Follow all the news from Colombia on Facebook and Twitter, or in our weekly newsletter. EL TIEMPO NEWSLETTERS Sign up for our newsletters and receive news in your email based on your interests. 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