Kuwait’s First Student-Designed Debit Card Launches At Dasman Bilingual School

Dasman Bilingual School (DBS), part of global schools group Cognita, has unveiled Kuwait’s first-ever student-designed debit card – the DBS Jeel Card – marking a major step forward in how financial literacy is taught in schools. The initiative is the result of a collaboration between DBS and Weyay Bank, bringing together creativity, real-world learning, and hands-on experience with digital finance for young people.
The Jeel Card is designed for students aged between eight to 14, and it features artwork created by Grade 6 pupil Aisha, the winner of the Weyay Jeel Card Design Competition. Her design was selected from more than 100 entries, reflecting both artistic talent and the school’s commitment to student-led innovation.

In launching the card, DBS aims to empower a new generation of financially aware learners, giving students practical, supervised tools to understand budgeting, spending, saving and the realities of modern digital money management.

Creativity Meets Financial Education

The DBS Jeel Card represents a first-of-its-kind approach in Kuwait, blending creative expression with financial responsibility. Students can use the card both in and out of school, supporting activities such as online transactions, tracking spending and setting savings goals.

Aisha’s winning Jeel Card artwork, which was recognised for its symbolism of youth empowerment and innovation

Features also include spending insights, rewards, and built-in parental oversight to ensure young cardholders are supported as they learn.
The card’s design competition encouraged students to explore how creativity can interact with money management in meaningful ways. Aisha’s winning artwork was recognised for its symbolism of youth empowerment and innovation, standing out during judging by Weyay Bank’s marketing team and DBS leaders.

“I’m really proud that my design was chosen,” said Aisha. “Designing the Jeel Card showed me how creativity and financial learning can work hand in hand to create something meaningful. I’m so grateful to our teachers at DBS for inspiring us to think differently and believe that our ideas can make a real impact.”

DBS’s approach aligns with Cognita’s global vision of education that looks beyond academics. Dr. Simon Camby, Cognita’s Group Chief Education Officer, said: “Congratulations to Dasman Bilingual School for bringing learning to life in such an innovative way, and to our students for their remarkable creativity. By connecting creativity with financial understanding, Dasman is equipping students with the mindset to lead, innovate, and make informed choices about their futures. Real-world learning like this builds confidence, curiosity and character – qualities that lie at the very heart of a Cognita education.”

Building Future-Ready Skills Through Real-World Learning

The launch of the Jeel Card arrives at a time when financial literacy is increasingly recognised as a core life skill. A recent OECD report reinforces this, noting a strong correlation between students’ financial literacy and their exposure to finance-related concepts in schools. DBS’s initiative puts this insight into action by giving students tangible tools and real scenarios to practise responsible decision-making.
Beyond the card itself, the project included a programme of financial literacy workshops run by Weyay Bank, giving students a wider understanding of banking and digital finance. Plans are already underway for a Grade 11 internship programme with the bank, offering hands-on experience and further bridging the gap between education and industry.

Both DBS and Weyay Bank are now exploring additional collaborations that continue to link financial education with cultural identity and student-driven creativity, suggesting this may be the first of many initiatives aimed at preparing young Kuwaitis to navigate an increasingly digital world.