Financial literacy just became fun, accessible, and life-changing for Anguilla’s youngest minds. On Thursday, 14th November, the ‘My First Nest Egg’ platform was officially launched at the Teacher’s Resource Centre, setting a new standard for empowering children with essential money management skills.
This initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with Liberty Cooperative Credit Union, was chaired by Mrs. Shana Delaney, Curriculum Officer Mathematics and drew a distinguished crowd, including the Hon. Minister of Education Ms. Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers, His Excellency the Acting Governor Mr. Perin Bradley, and educators, parents and supporters from across the island.
Mrs. Annie Schoenn, co-founder of My First Nest Egg, encapsulated the platform’s mission: “We have a passion for giving every single child a secure financial future.”
‘My First Nest Egg’ is a digital platform that makes financial education engaging and practical for children aged 3 to 13. Designed by mothers Nicole Hood and Annie herself, with input from educators and child psychologists, the programme employs gamified learning techniques to teach essential skills such as saving, budgeting, and investing.
The platform comprises two main components: the Family App which gamifies financial habits at home, encouraging parents and children to learn together and the Teacher Platform, which offers interactive lessons, a classroom economy, and printable resources aligned with educational standards like Common Core and SEL guidelines.
With these tools, children can earn “money,” set savings goals, build credit scores, and experience the magic of compound interest—all while having fun.
“This is more than just numbers and budgets,” said Chief Education Officer Mr. Bren Romney. “By introducing financial literacy concepts early, we are laying the foundation for a generation of financially responsible citizens.”
Educators now have access to a streamlined resource hub featuring lesson plans, printables, and gamified activities, making financial education a seamless addition to their classrooms.
Minister Kentish-Rogers praised Liberty Credit Union for its unwavering commitment: “Unlike many short-term projects, this partnership is from root to tip. Liberty Credit Union, alongside My First Nest Egg, is equipping teachers and students with the tools to build a financially literate Anguilla.”
Managing Director of Liberty Credit Union, Mrs. Vanessa Connor also highlighted the broader community impact, saying, “This programme isn’t about promoting Liberty—it’s about ensuring financial literacy across our community. By starting with our youngest learners, we’re planting seeds for long-term prosperity.”
Research shows that financial habits form long before high school. ‘My First Nest Egg’ addresses this by integrating lessons into daily routines in as little as two minutes a day. These lessons are age-appropriate, interactive, and designed to make complex financial concepts easy to understand. And the best part? It’s adaptable. Offline resources ensure accessibility even without internet connectivity, a crucial consideration for Anguilla’s diverse classrooms.
As the programme enters its pilot phase, the goal is to fully implement it across primary schools in Term 2, with plans to expand to secondary schools in the future.
“This is just the beginning,” remarked Chasity Borgorquez, Client Engagement Specialist at ‘My First Nest Egg’. “We believe it’s never too early to start building a foundation for financial success—not just for children, but for families and communities.”
With a programme as innovative and impactful as ‘My First Nest Egg’, Anguilla is leading the charge in preparing its youngest citizens for a financially secure future. The journey to brighter, smarter money habits has begun—and it’s looking brighter than ever.
