Mixed methods study of MoneySKILLZ among adolescent girls in South Africa

DETAILED SUMMARY

Importance

• Grassroot Soccer seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of distributed magazines on improving adolescent life skills, future planning, and financial education.

Objective

• Assess initial effectiveness of MoneySKILLZ magazine to build key financial education assets among adolescent girls and young women in Alexandra.
• Explore acceptability of MoneySKILLZ magazine among SKILLZ Girl participants.
• Understand Coach and teacher perspectives on MoneySKILLZ magazine.
• Understand implementation of magazine: reach, cost, feasibility.

Study details

• Study design: Mixed methods
• Data collection tools: Qualitative: Participant focus group discussions (n=3), Coach focus group discussions (n=1), teacher interviews (n=2); Quantitative: pre/post challenges based on magazine content (matched responses from n=159 participants)
• Participants: SKILLZ Girl program participants aged 15-19
• Implementation setting: Alexandra, South Africa
• Study period: 2023

Intervention

• MoneySKILLZ magazine was developed to improve adolescent life skills, future planning, and financial education. It was distributed to SKILLZ Girl participants. This evaluation seeks to assess its effectiveness in Alexandra’s girls and young women.

Results

• Effectiveness: Participants reported that they learned about saving money, currency, and how to use money. Coaches reported mixed views on effectiveness. Teachers had positive views overall, reporting that learners planned better during school market day.
  • “I have talked about money with a friend in the past two months (outside SKILLZ)”: +30% pre/post
  • “Power hand is another healthy way to deal with difficult and stressful situations”: +14% pre/post
  • “Before buying something I carefully consider if I need it”: -6% pre/post
  • “Money/Currency comes in the form of bills, coins, and digital”: +23% pre/post
• Acceptability & relevance: Participants liked the games and drawing, goal setting and future planning, and advice on saving. Coaches felt content may be more suitable for younger participants. Teachers praised clarity and visual appeal.
• Communication and attitudes around money: Limited participant/parent interaction resulted from the magazine.
• Magazine implementation: Participants agreed that Coaches should distribute the magazines, but that Coaches were difficult to reach for questions as they were busy with other interventions. Teachers felt magazines should be received in school from teachers.

Conclusions and implications

• Modest pre/post changes from a pilot magazine product on a topic new to participants indicate the potential for future MoneySKILLZ content.
• Future magazines may simplify English, increase space and instructions, and expand guidance on family conversations.