Thailand, January 9, 2025 ⎯ Sea (Thailand), in collaboration with the Institute of Board Game for Learning (IBGL), Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), and the Bank of Thailand (BOT), has spearheaded a new initiative to foster positive financial literacy among Thai youth, enhancing the development and distribution of the financial board game Wishlist into a nationwide competition — “Wishlist Thailand Tournament 2024.” The tournament was held for the first time on September 13, 2024 at the Bank of Thailand Learning Center, welcoming over 100 participants from across the country, including representatives from schools, TK Park Learning Center, and board game shops.
Mrs. Puttawan Suphataranant, Corporate Communications Director of Sea (Thailand) shared her views on the initiative, “Effective personal financial management is essential for enhancing one’s quality of life. Sea (Thailand) recognizes that today's financial innovations enable younger generations to access financial products and services at an earlier stage. This makes it vital for them to be equipped with the knowledge to use these tools correctly, safely, and efficiently, particularly amidst economic and social uncertainties. In response, we have introduced several financial literacy initiatives, including the development of the Wishlist financial board game, designed to cultivate knowledge, skills, and positive financial attitudes from a young age, promoting healthy financial habits and resilience in Thai society.”
Sea (Thailand) collaborated with the IBGL, Wizard of Learning, and Money Coach to design and develop Wishlist, a financial board game that introduces students to key financial concepts. Through interactive gamification, players learn about income management, prioritizing spending, financial liquidity, debt management, and earning additional income. This simulation provides an enjoyable way for players to practice financial planning, fostering good financial habits and equipping them with essential skills to enhance their quality of life in the future.
Currently, a total of 500 sets of the Wishlist financial board game have been distributed to schools, learning centers, and leading board game shops across Thailand. In addition, the board game has been made available in a "Print & Play" version via the Sea Academy website, with over 1,100 downloads to date.
Building on this success, Sea (Thailand), in collaboration with the IBGL, initiated the inaugural “Wishlist Thailand Tournament 2024”, featuring the BMA and the BOT as partners in promoting financial literacy among students in the BMA-administered schools, to foster financial literacy among Thai youth and promoting board games as a financial learning tool among students, parents, and teacher, on 13 September 2024 at the Bank of Thailand Learning Center. The event features a nationwide Wishlist board game competition, welcoming over 100 participants from across the country, including representatives from schools, TK Park Learning Center, and board game shops. In addition to the tournament, the event features a seminar on advancing financial education in Thailand, along with exhibition booths showcasing financial board games from various partners. The event is part of the Financial Learning Weekend, which is held at the Bank of Thailand Learning Center from 13 – 14 September 2024, welcoming numerous public and private sectors to join forces in driving financial education in Thailand.
The “Wishlist Thailand Tournament 2024” features a seminar titled “Challenges on Driving Financial Learning in the Changing World.” Mrs. Oramone Chantapant, Director of Financial Consumer Protection and Financial Service Provider Supervision Department, Bank of Thailand stated: “Building a foundational understanding of financial management among youth, such as emergency saving and saving for the future, income and expense management, and effective cash flow planning, as well as familiarizing them with financial products like credit cards and loans, can be achieved both within and outside the education system. By utilizing appropriate learning tools, such as skill-building activities or board games, youth engagement and participation in learning can be encouraged, fostering strong financial foundations that will serve as the basis for robust financial skills in the future.”
Mr. Warut Nimityont, Director of the Board Game Institute for Learning, emphasized the value of board games as educational tools: “Board games are an engaging medium for all ages. The Wishlist board game is particularly suitable for junior high school students, offering them a fun way to learn about financial concepts. This game not only teaches financial principles but also connects those lessons to real-world situations, helping build strong financial immunity for the future.”
“Wishlist has now been upgraded to version 2, offering a better gameplay experience. It also makes it easier for teachers and students to set up the game quickly, making it suitable for a class with limited time. Sea (Thailand) will continue working with our partners to promote the use of the Wishlist board game, fostering financial literacy within educational institutions and learning centers across the country,” Mrs. Puttawan concluded.
