Charity out to close book on poverty

Author Lucas Remmerswaal wants to share the financial literacy books with children all over the world. Photo / Natalie Slade

A charitable group is aiming to give away a million financial literacy work books to New Zealand students by 2020 to try to improve young people's wealth creation skills.

The Success for Students Charitable Trust was co-founded by Lucas Remmerswaal, a father-of-six who has authored children's books based on the "ideas and principles" of billionaire investor Warren Buffett.

Remmerswaal said 10,000 books had been distributed to students since last year and the trust was on track to hit the one million book target.

But the group is thinking bigger than just New Zealand.

"The mission is to raise $33 million to share this with a hundred million children all over the world," Remmerswaal said. "This is designed to help break the cycle of poverty."

He said e-books and physical work books were being given away. They include stories and exercises and there are different versions for university students down to primary school pupils.

"Financial education can make a difference - it can empower and equip young people with the knowledge, skills and confidence to take charge of their lives and build a more secure future for themselves and their families," said Remmerswaal.