Helping youth, young adults, and newcomers build strong money skills
Personal Finance: I’m in Charge® (PFIC) is a program designed to empower youth (16–30), with practical money management skills that make a real difference. From budgeting and saving to understanding credit and planning for future goals, PFIC helps participants build the confidence and knowledge they need to thrive at every stage of life.
Powered by Desjardins, PFIC is delivered at no cost by YMCA of Greater Toronto’s accredited PFIC facilitators across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
Your path to financial control begins here:
The program offers a range of learning paths that cover key financial topics like budgeting, saving, investing, managing credit, and planning for major life decisions — whether that’s education, housing, or even managing everyday expenses like cell phone costs.
Book a workshop:
The YMCA delivers financial literacy workshops at community organizations and school boards, including: Neighbourhood Link Toronto, Peel District School Board, WellFort Community Health Centre, The Salvation Army, and many more organizations across Peel, Etobicoke, North York, Richmond Hill, Scarborough, Durham, and Halton
Flexible activities and workshops are available both in person and online. We deliver free tailored workshops to youth through community groups and schools. If you’d like to schedule a workshop please contact us at partner@ymcagta.org.
Learn free online:
Individuals can also enjoy free access to self-paced learning paths and learn on their own terms. Whether you want to sample a few topics or dive in and binge the entire journey, the choice is yours. The free e-learning program is an educational initiative of Desjardins. You can Log in to the program anytime from your computer or mobile device. Jump from one module to another with a single click and freely explore the topics that matter to you!
Explore: Unforeseen Game App
In addition, participants can explore Unforeseen, a fun and interactive decision-making game created by Desjardins. The app helps users build healthy money habits through bite-sized learning, real-life scenarios, and interactive tools. It supports informed decision-making by guiding participants through unexpected financial situations in a practical, youth-friendly way.
You can download the app at Apple’s App Store and on Google Play.
Read testimonials from our participants:
Neighbourhood Link Toronto
Youth shared that their favourite aspects included learning about budgeting, engaging in hands-on activities like the Uber driver simulation, and playing interactive games. Key takeaways included learning about interest, credit cards, and the real costs of adult responsibilities like groceries and bills. Several participants mentioned applying what they learned in real life, such as opening a student account, planning for a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA), and using budgeting skills.
Youth H.I.R.E
The YMCA Financial Literacy workshop was extremely valuable and empowering. The facilitator created a supportive and engaging environment, breaking down complex financial topics into practical steps. The program helped participants feel more confident managing their finances and planning for their future.
The Cross-Cultural Community Services Association (TCCSA)
I greatly appreciated the engaging and insightful financial literacy session you conducted for our kids previously. It left a lasting impression and was highly beneficial for the children who attended. The feedback from your last session was overwhelmingly positive, and we believe your expertise would be invaluable in continuing to educate young minds about financial literacy.
