I am Noah! Welcome to our final video in the series. We’ve talked a lot about earning, saving, and spending for ourselves. But money and resources are like water—they are meant to move! When resources stay in one place, they don’t do much. But when they are distributed and shared, they can make a whole community bloom. Today, we are learning about the different ways we share the wealth: Trading, Lending, Borrowing, and Donating.I am Maya. It’s important to remember that “resources” aren’t just coins in a jar. A resource can be anything of value. We’ll look at how we distribute Monetary resources (cash), Goods (like clothes or toys), Services (the things you can do), and even your most precious resource of all: Donated Time. Depending on your culture, your history, and the technology you have, the way you share these things will change.I am Chloe. I love this topic because it shows that everyone has something to give, no matter how much money they have. If you don’t have ten dollars to donate, you might have an hour of time to help a neighbor or a set of outgrown clothes to trade. Being aware of all these methods gives you “Greater Flexibility.” You can choose the best way to help in any situation!And I am Liam. We’ll also talk about the “Context” of sharing. How we distribute resources today with our smartphones and internet is very different from how people did it a hundred years ago. And different cultures have beautiful traditions of lending and borrowing that we can all learn from. Let’s head to our Community Garden and see how resources move!Think about a community garden. It’s the perfect example of resource distribution. Trading is when two people swap things they value equally. Maybe you have extra tomato seeds but you need a shovel. You find someone with a shovel who wants to grow tomatoes—that’s a trade! No money changed hands, but both people are better off. Lending and Borrowing are like two sides of a bridge. When you lend your wheelbarrow to a neighbor, you are helping them finish their work. When you borrow their hose, they are helping you. This build trust and makes the whole neighborhood stronger. Finally, Donating is the heart of it all. It’s when you give your extra vegetables to a local food bank without expecting anything in return. You are distributing your success to help someone else thrive.Resources come in four main flavors. First, Monetary Resources—this is donating cash to a charity or an e-Transfer to a friend in need. Second, Goods. Think about your old winter coat or the books you’ve already read. Distributing these goods to others who need them is a great way to be sustainable! Third, Services. This is when you use your skills to help. Maybe you’re great at math and you tutor a younger student, or you’re a pro at fixing bikes and you help a friend. And fourth, Donated Time. Volunteering at a local animal shelter or a community clean-up day is a massive “pro” for everyone. Your time is a resource that can change the world!The “Context” of how we share is changing fast. In the past, you could only share with people you could see. Today, Technology lets us distribute resources across the globe. You can use an app to lend money to a farmer in another country (this is called micro-lending) or donate to a disaster relief fund in seconds. Cultural context is also huge. Some cultures emphasize the “Shared Economy,” where almost everything—from cars to tools—is borrowed and lent among the community. In other contexts, donating time through a band council or a community center is the most common way to share. Being flexible means knowing that if one method doesn’t work, you can always try another. If you can’t afford to donate goods, you can donate a service!A major tip for you today is to look around your school. How are resources being distributed? Is there a “Lost and Found” where goods are reclaimed? Is there a peer-mentoring program where services are shared? Understanding these systems helps you become a more responsible citizen. Motivation comes from knowing that you are part of a cycle of giving and receiving. Every time you lend a pencil or trade a snack, you are practicing the skills of resource distribution. It builds compassion and responsibility—the two biggest “investments” you can ever make in your character.We have covered so much in this series—from payment showdowns and tracking your goals to bank secrets and the power of sharing. You are now equipped with the knowledge to manage your money and your resources like a total pro. Keep being a critical consumer, keep tracking your dreams, and most importantly, keep sharing what you have with the world. We are so proud of your financial literacy journey! Take one last look at the “Resource Map” in your lesson and see how you can share something today. Whether it’s time, a skill, or a loonie, you have the power to make a difference. Goodbye for now, and good luck with all your future plans!
