The partnership began last year with a focus on giving used IT equipment a longer life. When Nordea replaces its laptops, they are securely wiped, prepared for reuse and distributed via GreenDice to schools and communities, helping reduce electronic waste while supporting access to education.
The latest initiative is a financial education video for use in school lessons. It covers topics such as understanding money, saving, planning purchases, and reflecting on needs versus wants. It also looks at how advertising and social media can influence spending behaviour.
A key element of the video is that it is presented by young people themselves. Two young people discuss real-life financial choices, making the content relatable and engaging for students.
“Financial education works best when it feels relevant. When young people explain concepts to other young people, they speak the same language. This creates a different level of engagement than when adults simply tell them what they should do,” says Jelena Trumm, Head of Management Office, who is responsible for the partnership. She continues:
“For the young people involved, this was a learning experience in itself. They also reflected on their own financial habits in order to give the best advice to students, of course in line with Nordea’s advice.”
The video is designed to fit into a typical school lesson and can be paused for discussion, allowing teachers to adapt it to their class.
Why teaching financial literacy early matters
Financial education is not part of the curriculum in all schools, and teachers may not always feel confident covering these topics. This is where partnerships like the one between Nordea and GreenDice can make a difference.
Katrin Järvemets, who coordinates volunteer engagement and financial literacy initiatives in Nordea Estonia, highlights why starting early is so important:
“Understanding money is a life skill. When children learn early how to save, plan and make conscious choices, it helps them feel more confident and independent later in life. We also see strong interest from schools, especially those located outside larger cities, where access to this kind of knowledge can be more limited.”
The videos are intended to complement classroom teaching and, over time, may be supported by Nordea volunteers who can join lessons digitally to answer questions and share practical examples.
Strong partnership on several levels
For Nordea, the collaboration with GreenDice brings together sustainability, community engagement and education, extending the life of IT equipment while supporting learning and inclusion.
