Financial Education Olympics
Mercado Pago and Junior Achievement launch the 2nd Financial Education Olympics
The event strengthens financial education for thousands of Argentine students, helping them make more informed decisions about their money.
Financial Education Olympics
Following the success of the first edition, Mercado Pago and Junior Achievement, in partnership with the startup Lufindo, are hosting the second edition of the Financial Education Olympics. The initiative promotes learning about personal finance and digital security, engaging more than 5,500 high school students from across the country.
The program takes place in stages: starting with in-person workshops led by Junior Achievement Argentina facilitators, focusing on financial habits and key concepts. Students then put their knowledge to the test through interactive challenges on the Lufindo platform, competing with teams from all regions of Argentina.
The final is scheduled for September, with the awards ceremony taking place in October at Mercado Libre’s headquarters in Buenos Aires. The three winning teams will receive tablets to support their studies, and each finalist school will be awarded 20 computers to equip their classrooms.
Mercado Pago promotes financial inclusion in Argentina through a free digital account for young people aged 13 to 17, activated with adult authorization. The account allows them to make payments, send money, top up services, and use a prepaid card. Beyond technology, the challenge is to close educational gaps: providing early financial education helps reduce inequalities, meets the current needs of young people, and lays the foundation for more conscious money management.
In the first edition, more than 3,600 young people from 22 provinces participated and learned about finance in a collaborative and fun way. This enthusiasm motivated us to expand the program and provide new opportunities for growth and autonomy to thousands of students.
Growing interest among young people in financial education
A 2024 study by consulting firm Provokers revealed that 65% of Argentine teenagers aged 13 to 17 are interested in learning about personal finance from an early age, and 67% already have a digital account. The main benefits include convenience, security, expense control, and the peace of mind it provides to parents:
- 66% prefer to pay through digital means, considering them safer than cash.
- 6 out of 10 say the digital account helps them better control their expenses.
- 70% of young Mercado Pago users highlight the digital account as a useful tool for learning how to manage their money.
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