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Press Release

Project Money Matters Unveils Gamified Solution to Combat Financial Exclusion Across Europe

Strategic Cross-Border Partnership Between Finland and Italy Fosters Civic Resilience Through Innovative Learning

Helsinki, Finland, 30/04/2026

As young Europeans face escalating systemic economic pressures and the growing threat of financial marginalization, Project Money Matters today announces the launch of a pioneering gamified educational initiative. Designed to bridge the critical financial literacy gap, the project equips individuals aged 13 and older with the agency to navigate volatile economic landscapes and combat financial exclusion.

This initiative is made possible through the generous support of the Civic Innovation Fund, THE CIVICS Innovation Hub, and the ERSTE Foundation. By merging practical fiscal management with civic responsibility, the project moves beyond traditional accounting, teaching youth that financial stability is a cornerstone of active democratic participation.

INNOVATION THROUGH GAME-BASED LEARNING At the heart of the initiative is the “Money Matters” card game, a collaborative simulation designed for 3–6 players with an average playtime of 30–60 minutes. The game moves away from dry theory, immersing participants in a high-stakes environment where they must balance personal survival with community health.

To achieve the ultimate goal of being crowned a “Community Finance Champion,” players must successfully navigate the “5/5/3 Rule”:

Solve 5 Challenge Cards
Collect 5 Tool Cards
Earn 3 Civic Points

The game utilizes three distinct, meticulously researched decks:

30 Challenge Cards (Red): These represent high-impact financial hurdles. Instead of generic obstacles, players face modern dilemmas such as navigating “Klarna-style” installment debt traps, the credit score impact of debt collection, and media literacy trials like the “Fake News” card, which tests a player’s ability to discern financial misinformation.
30 Tool Cards (Green): Strategic resources including KELA study grants, part-time employment, insurance, and the utilization of public safety nets.
30 Event Cards (Blue): Unpredictable external shocks, from sudden tech crashes and burst water pipes to regional public transport strikes.

FOSTERING CIVIC CHAMPIONS Unlike traditional competitive games, “Money Matters” rewards collective progress. Through the Civic Combo Bonus, players earn Civic Points when they use their own Tool Cards to aid a fellow participant in crisis. Progress is tracked via specialized tokens representing the pillars of a healthy society: Star (Achievement), Coin (Wise Decisions), Puzzle (Collaboration), Ballot (Inclusion), and Globe (Global Awareness).

LOCALIZED DIGITAL RESOURCES: THE BUDGET FLIPBOOKS Recognizing that financial realities are tied to geography, the project features localized digital flipbooks that provide realistic, city-specific simulations:

‘Living on a Budget – Helsinki’: Tailored to the Finnish context, this resource explores the complexities of the KELA social support system, the high costs of Nordic city living, and specific mandatory expenses like seasonal winter tire changes.
‘Living on a Budget – Milan’: This resource simulates the Italian economic landscape, focusing on Mediterranean social norms, regional cost-of-living variances, and the specific economic environments youth face in Italy’s urban centers.

A MULTINATIONAL PARTNERSHIP Project Money Matters is the result of a robust European collaboration between Learnmera (Finland) and Eurotrainingform (Italy). To ensure maximum accessibility and impact across borders, all game materials and digital resources are available in English, Finnish, and Italian.

PROJECT ACCESSIBILITY AND CALL TO ACTION We invite educators, youth facilitators, and community leaders to integrate these open-access tools into their workshops and curricula. By simulating real-world financial friction in a safe, collaborative environment, we can empower the next generation to move from financial precariousness to civic leadership.

For more information, to download the digital flipbooks, or to access printable game materials, please visit: projectmoneymatters.eu.

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About Project Money Matters Project Money Matters is a gamified educational initiative dedicated to merging financial literacy with civic engagement. By challenging European youth to solve realistic economic hurdles through collaboration and strategic thinking, the project fosters a more resilient, informed, and inclusive society.

Project Presentation

Financial and economic literacy NECE Lab

In June 2025 we participated in the Financial and economic literacy NECE Lab Bratislava where we met with the organizers and other winners of the call. The program consisted of the following topics:

From Questions to Clarity, where we learned how to define civic and financial challenges using quality research, both desk and field-based
Research in Action, where we formed assumptions, conducted interviews and surveys, and began validating ideas with real community insight
Mapping Causes and Impacts, where we used the problem tree method to unpack root causes and consequences behind financial literacy issues
From Insight to Focus, where storytelling, prototyping, and observation helped visualize how these challenges appear in everyday life
And finally, From Research to Action, where we presented our Challenge Briefs and set guidelines for future solution-building. We listened to inspiring talks and presentations from Dr. Mattias Björklund from Stockholm University, FinQ Centrum, and a diverse group of CIF winners whose projects are reshaping financial and economic education across Europe.

The main outcome
Each team created a Challenge Brief – a focused, research-backed summary of a real issue, designed to guide future solutions.