Koprivnički Ivanec Primary School wins Hanfa competition
A fairy tale written by students from Koprivnički Ivanec Primary School has won Hanfa competition “Be the Hero of Your Story – Don’t Fall for Fraud!”. A prize-giving ceremony was held at Hanfa today, where the winners were presented with an award and a prize – an interactive display.
The aim of the competition was to raise students’ awareness of the risks of financial fraud and to strengthen their ability to recognise suspicious offers, particularly in the context of increasingly sophisticated online scams. Primary school students from across Croatia participated in the competition by submitting a short fairy tale or story, and Hanfa received as many as 28 entries.
Jurica Jednačak, a member of the Hanfa Board, congratulated the winning team and all participants on their creativity and effort. He emphasized: “The internet, social media, and digital platforms are now an integral part of the daily lives of children and young people, and financial scams are increasingly occurring through these very channels. That is why it is especially important to develop awareness from an early age about responsible money management, recognizing financial risks, and making safe and thoughtful financial decisions.” He also stressed that through such educational competitions, Hanfa aims to encourage students to develop critical thinking, understand the importance of financial literacy, and gain the knowledge that will help them feel safer and act more responsibly in the world of finance and the digital environment.
When evaluating the entries, the three-member Hanfa jury assessed creativity and innovation in expression, but even more so the understanding and presentation of financial fraud issues and the protection of personal financial assets. The competition focused on educating and encouraging young people to think carefully about financial scams, particularly the types encountered online and on social media.
The mentor of the winning team, Ivana Muža, thanked Hanfa for the award and recognition of the students’ efforts, highlighting that the topic of fraud was very engaging for students, as many of them recognised situations from their everyday lives and the digital environment. “During the project, the students were particularly motivated by the opportunity to talk openly, ask questions, and share their own experiences and thoughts. I was most impressed by their creativity, seriousness in approaching the topic, and their ability to convey powerful and important messages from a child’s perspective.” In conclusion, she said that moments like these remind us of what students can achieve when given support, trust, and the opportunity to show their potential.
Ena Jakupić and Stefani Jagarinec, seventh-grade students of Koprivnički Ivanec Primary School, spoke on behalf of the winners about the process of creating the story: “In our story, we depicted various forms of online scams that people today can very easily be exposed to. We decided on this topic after discussions and activities we had for Safer Internet Day. On that occasion, we learnt a lot about online dangers, false promises, data theft, and the ways scammers exploit people’s trust. We wanted to show that the internet can be a useful, but also a dangerous place if we are not careful enough. In our story, we wanted to convey how important it is to be cautious about who we trust and what content we share online, and to recognise the signs of a scam. We wanted to present all of this in a story relatable to everyone, especially those who are not digitally literate.”
The headteacher of Koprivnički Ivanec Primary School, Kristina Furkes, emphasised the importance of such initiatives, which encourage students’ creativity and the practical application of theoretical knowledge. “The primary school system, through its curriculum and civic education, systematically supports the development of financial literacy among students. Understanding basic financial concepts helps young people develop habits that lead to their financial stability and independence. This award not only has a material value; it also serves as a measure of the quality of the work of both teachers and students.”
In addition to the winners, awards were also given to Trilj Primary School for second place and Budaševo – Topolovac – Gušće Primary School for third place.
This award ceremony is part of a broader programme of activities carried out by Hanfa to strengthen financial literacy among children and young people. Through its educational projects and workshops, Hanfa seeks to encourage responsible and safe behaviour in the digital and financial environment, and to educate young people on how to recognise financial fraud and protect themselves.
