Playing TIKA SUBAK – Financial Literacy Game

Wisely managing community resources can create sustainable economic opportunities, while improving the quality of life of the community. One way to manage community resources wisely is by recording finances. This Financial Literacy Training uses a game model to improve individual or group understanding of responsible financial management.

This game is called TIKA, inspired by the name of the traditional Balinese calendar which is compiled based on wariga calculations. So in this case TIKA is an abbreviation of Titi Kelola Artha, a way to manage finances. While SUBAK is a rice field irrigation system in Bali and in this game it is translated as Strategy for Wise Finances. So TIKA SUBAK is an abbreviation of Titi Kelola Artha – Wise Strategy for Finances, and can be interpreted as a way to manage finances wisely.

First launched in Baliwoso, Pengotan Village, this game has been played by 204 people from various villages in Bali. The excitement that occurred in this financial literacy training includes:

Banjar Bukit Sari, Sumberklampok Village – Saturday, March 1, 2025

It got more exciting as the night went on. The fathers and mothers, most of whom were married couples, plus the young people of Banjar Bukit Sari, Sumberklampok Village, enthusiastically played Financial Literacy at Bale Banjar. Although it was not completed because it was too late, most of the participants already understood that the goal of the game was to invite participants to start recording family finances.

Pemuteran Village – Sunday, March 2, 2025

Still in western Buleleng, the Financial Literacy game continued to Pemuteran Village. The Wisnu Foundation Team arrived at 9 am and around 20 mothers were already waiting. “The fathers work. They can only join at night. But those who work in the fields can now be called.” So some of the participants were married couples, while others were mothers in pairs. Everything was still exciting and happy even though they were playing in the hot temperature of the coastal village.

Banjar Lampu, Catur Village – Wednesday, March 5, 2025

We continued our journey to Catur Village in Bangli. “Can I leave 1 of the game equipment here, ma’am?” Because they were so excited to play Financial Literacy, there was a young man who wanted to play again with his friends. Interestingly, there was one young man who did not want to join in saying the “Promise to Drink Alcohol Responsibly” because he felt he would not be able to keep it.

Pedawa Village – Sunday, March 9, 2025

This time, we played Financial Literacy in Pedawa, Baliaga Village in Buleleng. “Enough 2 Glasses” could only be read in subtitles because the sound was covered by the sound of rain on the roof tiles. As usual, the game was still exciting. Moreover, there was a man who did not believe in calculators. The cash flow balance was always calculated manually, and amazingly at the end of the game there was only a difference of 15 thousand between the balance record and the physical money. Meanwhile, those who used calculators had a difference of hundreds of thousands, even millions.

Bongancina Village – Tuesday, March 18, 2025

After about five years of not visiting Bongancina Village – Buleleng, we finally returned to activities at Wantilan Bongancina Village. Yup, playing Financial Literacy with couples of mothers and fathers. Almost all couples recorded incoming and outgoing money carefully and neatly, so that the difference between the balance records and the physical money at the end of the game was very small, some of them even had no difference. Amazing!!!

That’s how exciting the financial literacy game was in these villages. This training activity was able to run smoothly with the support of Diageo Indonesia, one of the companies located in Nyambu Village, Kediri District, Tabanan. The social programs implemented are a form of corporate responsibility for the use of natural resources, especially for water use. This game was inspired by the Si Keong Nelayan game model created by the Indonesian Community and Fisheries Foundation (MDPI) team. Look forward to our next excitement visiting villages in Bali and road shows to the 8 corners of the compass. ????~