From the different neighborhood assessments carried out by the Department of Community Development, Family & Humanitarian Affairs (CDFHA), indications are that an increasing number of persons encounter great difficulty in managing their personal finances. Upon further investigation it was learned from the individuals, and is parroted, that the two main reasons that determine the financial status of a person is primarily due to controllable and uncontrollable factors. Controllable factors can be defined as those internal forces that can be influenced by the individual through a change in behavior, attitude or circumstances. In this case, a controllable force consists of poor money management. In contrast, uncontrollable factors include, amongst others the high cost of living, unemployment, seasonal economic opportunities that have made financial planning for household's complex if not impossible. As a result, many persons find themselves living from paycheck to paycheck with no savings that would serve as a "safety net" in the event of unexpected expenses.
On St. Maarten, as in many societies, money is a fact of life. There is hardly any area of human activity where its influence is not felt. The inability to meet one's basic needs may engender desperation, low self-esteem and poor health. Thereby negatively hampering one's quality of life.
Through this lens Community development, Family & Humanitarian Affairs strives to organize empowerment programs and workshops Therefore, this course "Taking control through budgeting" is part of CDFHA's strategy to deliver social empowerment programs in the form of training workshops that are designed to equip residents with the tool and knowledge needed to be proactive, confident and improve one's financial capability in order to lead a fulfilling life.
"Taking control through budgeting" consists of a series of practical and interactive lectures where the general public and or persons, that face difficulty "in making ends meet", will acquire knowledge and skills to effectively manage their personal finances. Lectures were held at the Community Centers and or the various Community Help Desks located in the various districts and or buildings nearby the helpdesks that can accommodate the workshops and the number of participants targeted.
The course ran for nine weeks (Aug 27-Oct 29) allowing participants to be make full use of the workshops that were facilitated by S.I.F.M.A.
Each workshop session lasted two hours per week and the topics combines Introduction to Budgeting, Nutrition on a Budget, Importance of Insurance and Savings Plans, Living on a Budget and Knowing yourself-worth.
The course is scheduled to take place every 6 months and the next one is due early 2013; the general public will be informed in due time of the commencement date of the next course.
A total of 98 participants registered for the course and a total of 60 participants earned their certificate as they met the set criteria of attending 70% of the workshops provided.
The certificate ceremony will take place on Friday, November 16 at the Philipsburg Jubilee Library from 6:30-8:30 pm.
After completion of the budgeting course interested participants, that need additional coaching, can receive this on a one-on-one basis from the various Case Managers within the department of Community Development, Family & Humanitarian Affairs as well as Social Workers from Social Services. This coaching will take place for duration of maximum 3 months, depending on the individual need, at all 4 Help Desks locations.
