By Brad Haire
University of Georgia
Poverty plagues Georgia, and it hits no place more than in the
southwest corner. A University of Georgia conference there will
teach that region’s youths financial tools to combat this
plague, says one conference organizer.
“Growing Your Pot of Gold,” a youth financial literacy
conference sponsored by the UGA Cooperative Extension Southwest
District, will be May 19-20 at Andrew College in Cuthbert, Ga.
Poverty is a complex issue with many contributing factors, said
Laura Johnson, the Southwest District 4-H program development
coordinator. And poverty-stricken youths often miss out on a
basic financial education.
“We want to educate and guide the next generation out of
poverty,” Johnson said. “The kids attending the conference will
learn saving skills and the time value of money and learn the
good and bad sides of credit.”
Of the 41 counties in the UGA Extension’s Southwest District, 39
have persistent poverty, according to a study by the UGA Carl
Vinson Institute for Government. The district roughly
encompasses the area from Stewart County east to Peach County
south to Clinch County and west to the Alabama line.
In more than half of the counties in this district, at least one
of every five residents lives in poverty. A family of four
living on $19,000 or less annually is considered impoverished.
Johnson said 58 percent of those in poverty work “but just can’t
make high enough wages to get over that poverty line.”
Southwest District county Extension agents targeted and
contacted 7th, 8th and 9th graders affected by poverty in their
counties. Transportation, meals, room and the conference will be
free for the kids. About 100 students will attend, Johnson
said.
Extension agents and Georgia 4-H high school youth financial
ambassadors will teach workshops on “your money
personality,” “savings made simple” and “be a savvy shopper.”
“The kids will also have the chance to become Georgia 4-H youth
savers, which will help them make a savings goal to purchase
something they want,” Johnson said.
The students will be given educational materials, too, to take
home
to their families, she said.
“We want them to develop a better relationship with their local
county extension office to become aware of the resources and
support available to them,” she said.
The kids will have a little fun, too, she said, with a dance, a
movie and sports activities.
The conference alone won’t pull the kids out of poverty. “But we
hope what they learn,” she said, “will help them begin to think
about these financial literacy issues.”
