Long ago, in the golden heart of Africa, where the baobabs touched the skies and the rivers sang old songs, there lived a young jackal named Jojo.

Jojo didn’t own anything - not a cave, not a patch of land, not even a shiny pebble. But he was clever, kind, and had something far more powerful than treasure: trust.

And trust, little one, is where all true wealth begins.

Jojo lived in the peaceful kingdom of Zamunda, ruled by King Tembo the Elephant. One day, the King called all the young animals together.

“The rains are late,” he said. “We must store food, protect the land, and help the old and the young. But I can’t do it alone. I need a helper.”

The lion cubs roared for attention. The monkeys did backflips. But King Tembo chose Jojo.

“You may not be the strongest, but you are faithful,” he said. “Take care of my granary. Feed the hungry. Watch over the forest paths. Be my steward.”

Jojo bowed low. “Yes, Your Majesty. I will treat it all as if it were my own.”

And that is what he did.

He counted every nut and berry, fixed broken fences, even helped the bees when their hive fell in a storm. He didn’t eat more than his share. He didn’t show off. He served quietly, joyfully.

The other animals began to respect him. The old owl said, “Jojo carries the heart of a king.”

Then one day, a great drought swept across the land. Rivers shriveled. Trees bent. The animals panicked.

But Jojo had prepared. The granaries were full. The forest paths were clear. Even the bees had shelter.

When King Tembo saw this, he stepped down from his stone throne and placed his crown beside Jojo.

“This land is yours now,” he said. “You were faithful with little. Now rule with wisdom.”

And Jojo, the jackal who once had nothing, became Jojo the Just - leader of Zamunda, protector of its wealth.

Children, ask yourself:

• Are you careful with what you have, even if it’s small?

• Do you clean your room like it’s a palace?

• Do you share your toys like a wise leader?

Stewardship is treating borrowed things with honor. It’s when you take care of something as if it belongs to your future.

In real life, this is how wealth begins - not by getting more, but by managing what you already have.

Like Jojo, you may not have gold or land… yet.

But every time you help your family, save your coins, or care for someone else’s things - you are building trust. And trust grows into leadership. Leadership grows into ownership. And ownership… that’s the beginning of a kingdom.

So, start small. Be faithful. One day, the crown might be yours too.

Would you like to hear Jojo’s next adventure? There’s more to this tale, if you’re ready.