Over 30,000 teenagers have gone through the 'Business Godfather' program in nearly 39 years. This productive inclusion initiative is designed to provide training and a first work experience for teenagers aged 15 to 17 in situations of social vulnerability. During this time, the program has accumulated investments of over $15 million in scholarships.
The program has entered a new modernization phase with the implementation of digital payments through the National Electronic Wallet (BEN) platform of the National Bank of Panama, benefiting 150 scholarship youths in Panama, Arraiján, and La Chorrera in its first phase.
Minister of Social Development Beatriz Carles stated that this new process not only represents the modernization of a program that is about to turn 40 and has allowed hundreds of young people to complete their studies, but also an opportunity to promote financial inclusion and prepare them to operate in an increasingly digital environment.
'It is a tool that will give them the opportunity to learn how to manage their resources, make payments, and other transactions from a modern and secure platform, with the support of their parents or guardians. It also represents a significant advance in administrative matters, as it will allow us to reduce the use of checks, streamline payments, and ensure that young people receive their resources in a timely manner,' she noted.
She added: 'Through BEN, we not only speed up the payment process, but we also bank the youth for their proper handling of digital financial services, promoting financial inclusion and responsible management of their income from the beginning of their working lives'.
Additionally, the young people participated in a financial education and BEN platform workshop, where they received practical guidance on how to manage their digital accounts, make transfers, payments, and other operations securely. Currently, the program has the support of 112 sponsoring companies nationwide, benefiting more than 500 young people.
