"A child’s earliest money memory plants the seed of prosperity; water it with hope to break generational poverty."

Namaste from the lap of the Himalayas, Nepal !!!

In the remote hills of Nepal, children trek hours to attend public schools lacking not only basic essentials but also something far more important: Hope and Joy.

Many of these children come from families trapped in generational poverty. Their homes lack not just financial stability but the knowledge required to break free. Children grew up without ever hearing the words “savings,” “budget,” or “bank.” And so, the cycle continues.

At Social Lab Nepal, we asked ourselves: What if we could teach children about money, not someday, but now? What if learning to manage money could help them dream beyond survival?

That question gave birth to our initiative: FSM: The Financial Simulation Model for Young Minds. FSM is a simple yet powerful model that brings financial literacy, emotional growth, and life skills into the heart of classrooms.

Here’s a quick walk through to how it works:

Children earn points by demonstrating positive behaviors such as regular attendance, good hygiene, active participation, and strong academic efforts. These points are then converted into tokens, which they can either spend at a school marketplace or save in a “token bank” that offers 20% interest. They even have the option to take loans to purchase special items.

Through this fun, hands-on system, children learn to budget, prioritize their needs, and understand the value of saving. They explore how loans work, build patience and self-worth, and gain the confidence to make informed decisions; lessons that last a lifetime.

But beyond the numbers, FSM transforms school culture. Kids begin to show up not because they have to but because they want to. They feel seen. They feel celebrated. And slowly, they begin to dream.

In Just 2 Years Across 5 Rural Schools, We’ve Seen:

Now, We Need Your Help to Reach More Children. It only takes $10 per child to give them these skills and break the cycle of poverty.

In 2025, we aim to bring FSM to more remote schools and plant seeds of hope in hundreds of young minds.

We're raising $10,000 to:

Be a part of this change. Help us build futures filled with joy, learning, and dignity.

Learn about Social Lab Nepal here:

https://sociallab.com.np/