"Siberian Warriors" could potentially be integrated into Finland's financial education practice in Russia.
In the Krasnoyarsk region, a grand event took place in the realm of financial savviness: the Keys Championship, fondly known as the "Krasnoyarsk Lions." This year, the organizers submitted an application to have the event included in the annual federal catalog of exceptional practices, as decreed by the Ministry of Finance of RF.
In its third year, the Krasnoyarsk Keys Championship for financial literacy welcomed 66 teams from 20 cities and districts across the region. After rigorous competition, the top 10 teams advanced, presenting video presentations, solving functional problems, and tackling complex financial mysteries to impress the judges.
Each participant demonstrated creativity, teamwork, and outstanding knowledge, making it a challenging task for the judges. Nonetheless, the winners were determined:
- First place went to School No. 14 from Norilsk.
- Second place was claimed by School No. 24 from Krasnoyarsk.
- Third place was secured by School No. 2 from Aginsk, Sayan District of the Krasnoyarsk region.
All winners were bestowed with diplomas and certificates.
Vice-Premier of the government of the Krasnoyarsk region, Minister of Finance Vladimir Baikhar, stated, "The Krasnoyarsk Lions Championship is one of the most popular events in financial education in the region. Every year, it brings together dozens of teams, and the participants seriously prepare, delving into complicated financial questions. This year, we presented the championship for publication in the federal catalog of outstanding regional practices, which is compiled annually by the Russian Ministry of Finance."
In the application submitted by the region, the Keys Championship is detailed comprehensively. The competition, which began in 2023, serves as a unique tool for involving teenagers and adolescents in collaborative efforts related to financial literacy, eventually inspiring them to acquire new knowledge in this field. The championship features the participation of representatives from the Central Bank, social funds, cultural institutions like libraries, museums, theaters, universities, the Family Center, commercial corporations, and regional authorities such as the Legislative Assembly and the Ministry of Finance.
The name "Lions" is no accident: a lion is one of the symbols of Krasnoyarsk, the "personification" of its coat of arms. Holding a pickaxe, the lion represents the tool used for gold mining. Much like throughout the last century, today the Krasnoyarsk region plays a crucial role in filling Russia's treasury, remaining one of the country's leading gold producers, consistently ranking among the top three gold-producing regions.
Participation in the "Krasnoyarsk Lions" is open to high school students. Current participation in the championship spans across eight hundred students from several municipalities. At least nine social partners and volunteers are also engaged. The competition consists of two stages: an online preliminary round and a final, face-to-face event lasting around four hours. This event is divided into three segments: team presentations, quick tasks, and financial puzzles.
The team presentations and quick tasks allow participants to immerse themselves in the topic and warm up before the more challenging tasks ahead. Financial puzzles, rooted in real-life scenarios, form the crux of the competition. For instance, in 2023, contestants needed to restore and model the solutions devised by a real-life business owner in sectors like education, health, and events, to overcome the crisis. The following year, the financial puzzles revolved around the well-developed in-region initiative-based budgeting. Teams were asked to create project proposals for local initiatives, collaborating with experts, and they successfully completed all tasks.
It is worth noting that the event has already received high praise in several contests.
For example, after the "KIVO 24" contest held by the Higher School of Economics, the "Krasnoyarsk Lions" made it into the Top 150 innovative projects in Russia. The Champions League was also presented in the compendium of socially active technology-based education projects after the conclusion of the All-Russian Contest "We Nurture the Citizen 23."
In 2024, the experience of organizing the championship was showcased at the All-Russian Conference on the Exchange of Experience and the Presentation of Best Practices in Financial Education, and in the Krasnoyarsk region, a program for teacher training, "Methodical School: Resources for Forming Financial Literacy," was developed and implemented for teachers involved in preparing students for the championship.
Intriguingly, the application to include the Keys Championship "Krasnoyarsk Lions" in the list of the best practices in financial education in Russia is not the first instance of such recognition.
In fact, several initiatives of the region have been highly acclaimed on the federal level, with the Krasnoyarsk Territory Seeds Financial Festival being one of the most notable examples. Moreover, it is worthy to note that the number of financial literacy events in the region exceeds 10,000 annually. Recently, in March, the region was deservedly recognized as the capital of financial culture, and the "Lions" stand out as one of the shining examples of this status.
Images courtesy: the Krasnoyarsk Regional Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank.
- The application for the Keys Championship, also known as the "Krasnoyarsk Lions," includes details about its participation in various sectors, such as schools, universities, cultural institutions, commercial corporations, and regional authorities.
- The event received recognition in the "KIVO 24" contest by the Higher School of Economics, making it one of the Top 150 innovative projects in Russia.
- In 2024, the experience of organizing the "Krasnoyarsk Lions" was showcased at the All-Russian Conference on the Exchange of Experience and the Presentation of Best Practices in Financial Education.
- In March, the Krasnoyarsk region was awarded as the capital of financial culture, with the "Krasnoyarsk Lions" standing out as one of its shining examples.
