Two years ago, Salamatu, 19, was forced to drop out of business school because she could not afford to pay the tuition fees after the death of her father and brother.

Plan Sierra Leone and local partner, CIFORD, set up youth savings and loans groups in her community and it was not long before Salamatu had joined, become chairwoman of her group, and taken out her first loans: one to buy a bag of rice to start up her small business and one to pay her school fees.

She is one of over 3,000 young people in Freetown, Sierra Leone, participating in Plan's youth savings and loans programme, which introduces 15-25 year olds to financial literacy.

Back at school

Now Salamatu’s finances are on track and she is back at school pursuing her goal of being a successful business woman.

“It's like my dream was dead during the time I dropped out of school. Now I have realised that my dream will really come to pass one day," she says.

Read more about Plan's successes in Sierra Leone