in-person teaching with BAHIA

By Kathleen Xie

Our partnership with The Bay Area Hispano Institute for Advancement (BAHIA) marked our first in-person workshop series in the Bay Area. From the beginning of 2023, our co-founders Wilson and Jack, along with other East Bay chapter members, have visited the elementary students every week to teach financial literacy topics.

My Experience

Over my spring break, I got the opportunity to drive down to BAHIA and teach with Jack. Our plan was to familiarize the kids with entrepreneurship by having them plan to start a shop, similar to a lemonade stand. After introducing the word “business” with a hangman game (which one of the kids somehow guessed correctly in the first try), we layed out colorful poster papers and markers for the kids to get creative. Some decided to fill their posters with pastry drawings with the intention of starting a bake sale, while others opted for a unique approach of selling scary stories. Either way, we tried guiding the kids through the process by talking to them about setting their prices, attracting potential customers, and finding a selling location. At the end of the session, they left with developing business plans and, of course, prizes to celebrate their hard work. As a volunteer, seeing the kids learn and bond with each other was a greatly rewarding feeling that I will continue to cherish.