Build Up aims to transfer financial knowledge and skills relevant to the day-to-day lives of co-operative members and to influence a positive change in attitude and financial behaviour in the long term.

Build Up was initially rolled out as a pilot programme for the Western Cape Secondary Housing Co-operative, a member of the SACHA (South African Tertiary Housing Co-operative), in 2019, and was so successful that it will be extended to other co-operatives in South Africa.

During a once-off, face-to-face, six-hour workshop, the following themes are covered:

• Principles of a basic personal budget
• Debt management: understanding interest, informal credit, pay-day loans, negotiating with creditors, and garnishee orders
• Saving for emergencies, saving goals and compound interest
• Saving for vehicles and insurance – risk mitigation for future risks
• Rights and recourse

The workshop is followed up with auxiliary communication channels like SMS communication to reinforce learning, wellness days with other consumer education bodies etc.

For six-hour workshops: