Edukasi Keuangan dan Menumbuhkan Karakter Menabung serta Lomba Mewarnai Celengan di SD Negeri 02 Gunungjaya

Abstract

The limited understanding of financial literacy among elementary school students in rural areas has a direct impact on the absence of a saving culture and the tendency toward consumptive behavior. In response to this condition, a community service program was implemented with a focus on improving knowledge, motivation, and saving skills through activities entitled Financial Education, Character Building in Saving, and Piggy Bank Coloring Competition. The program was carried out on July 19, 2025, at SD Negeri 02 Gunungjaya, Belik Subdistrict, Pemalang Regency, involving 31 fifth-grade students as the main participants. The activities were designed using the Participatory Learning and Action method, which emphasized active student involvement starting from problem identification, joint planning with the school, interactive learning sessions integrated with creative competitions, to reflective evaluation. Data were collected through observation, teacher interviews, and documentation. The results showed a significant improvement in students’ understanding of the importance of saving, increasing from 29% to 87%. Students also demonstrated active participation throughout the program and created personal piggy banks to encourage saving habits at home. This program played a vital role in shaping healthy financial character, strengthening collaboration between schools and universities, and offering the potential to be replicated in other schools according to local needs. These findings affirm that a creative, participatory-based approach is effective in empowering financial literacy among elementary school students.