Digital Financial Empowerment For Rural Youth In Candimas Village, South Lampung

Abstract

Candimas Village, an agrarian village with the status of a Developed Village, still faces challenges related to low access to formal financial services and low digital financial literacy among its youth, which impacts the achievement of its Economic Resilience Index (IKE). This community service activity aimed to enhance the capacity of youth in digital financial literacy through a collaborative learning approach. The method involved 23 youth group participants in an interactive collaborative learning process, covering topics on digital financial products, cybersecurity, and practical financial management. Evaluation results showed a significant improvement in participants' understanding: 85.7% understood the importance of prudent financial management, 71.4% were able to identify modes of digital fraud, and 92.9% mastered the principle of data confidentiality. However, understanding of encryption and characteristics of illegal loans still needs improvement. The activity's conclusion emphasizes the importance of ongoing mentoring, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and replication of this empowerment model to strengthen economic resilience towards achieving a Self-Reliant Village status.