2026 Back to School Competition Winner Announcement!

Thirteen-year-old Alese Amour pressed her forehead against the window of the British Airways plane and stared at the clouds below. She could hardly believe it. A girl from Reform, Gasparillo, was on her way to London, this was a dream come through as it was her first time on an airplane.

The trip was her prize from her mother for passing for her first choice school after the SEA examination. Growing up in a single-parent home meant that trips like this were only to be dreamed about.  Her mother worked hard, sometimes even two jobs so Alese knew just how special this opportunity was.

Before leaving Trinidad, her grandfather, whom she lovingly called Pappy, surprised her and placed an envelope in her hand at the Piarco Airport, Departure Terminal saying only, “This is for all your hard work.”

As she opened the envelope, her mouth opened with pure shock and inside was £500. She was in pure disbelief as Pappy had given her no rules about how to spend the money. As she waved goodbye to Pappy, Alese began imagining Sephora bags filled with makeup and shelves of Kuromi merchandise, her favorite Sanrio character!

A few hours into the flight, however, Alese drifted off to sleep. In her dream, she found herself standing in Oxford Street, London surrounded by everything she wanted.

“Yuh must spend it!” a voice whispered. Alese imagined using all £500. She pictured herself returning to Trinidad with two giant suitcases stuffed with Kuromi merchandise and makeup which seems like a fitting reward for her SEA success. However, another thought entered her mind.

Would she even use all those things a few weeks from now? She barely uses makeup and she already has a lot of Kuromi merchandise.  Five hundred pounds seemed like plenty now, but once it was gone, it was gone forever.

Then, between sleep and checking the flight tracker,  another voice appeared.

“Think about yuh future chile.” Alese looked around. “Who said that?” “Reason,” the voice replied.

Reason reminded her of the financial literacy programme and importance of managing your personal finance. She had often heard about these things in passings  on those television programmes which her grandad religiously granddad listened to.

“Yuh don’t have to choose between enjoying your money and saving it, yuh could create a balanced plan chile” Reason explained.  Alese thought carefully about what this would mean.

I could spend £250 in London and keep £250 as savings, she though.

“But what would I do with the other half?” she asked.

“Yuh could put it into one of yuh accounts at a bank or credit union,” Reason answered. “Both are types of financial institution. Yuh savings could help you with unexpected expenses or an emergency.”

Alese imagined herself several months later needing something important for school. Instead of asking her mother, who struggled to make ends meet, she could have her own money.

“As yuh grow older chile, yuh will learn even more about managing money, things like a debit card, a credit card, and building a good credit history. Understanding these things is part of financial literacy. Yuh don’t have to understand everything now but it’s importance to keep it in mind,” Reason said and Alese once remembered about learning about the importance of managing your money. Her mother had once promised to take her to the Central Bank, which she remembered as being very important part of the national financial system, phrases she remembered hearing her big sister use.

Alese considered everything Reason told her.

£250 was still a lot of spending money. She could buy her favourite Kuromi items, choose a few things from Sephora and still enjoy London without feeling bad. This plan would mean she would also return home with something left.

A sudden bump from her mother woke up and her mom told her they had almost reached London. She reached for her backpack under the seat and touched the envelope Pappy had given her. For the first time, she understood why he had not told her what to do with it. The real  gift was not the £500, it was Pappy trusting her to make the decision herself.

Alese smiled and looked to mother and said, “Mom, I going to save 250 and spend 250, can you keep this 250 for me”. Her mother smiled and placed a kiss on her forehead, knowing that her little girl had made the right decision.

What’s the formula? Can you guess?

It’s learning to manage money with success!

It’s not about having plenty to spend,

It’s knowing how to save and make your money extend.

Financial literacy is where it begins,

With smart money choices and responsible wins.

Make a plan, set goals, and know what you earn,

Because every dollar has a lesson to learn.

At the bank, I can manage my accounts,

And understand what my money amounts.

With a debit card, I spend what I have,

While credit needs wisdom so I don’t overspend.

I’ll keep track of my expenses each day,

And think before choosing to purchase or pay.

I’ll put money into savings too,

Because saving today can help dreams come true.

When an emergency comes my way,

I’ll have money prepared for that unexpected day.

My personal financial history will show

The money habits I choose as I grow.

A credit union can help me learn,

And a financial institution can help my money earn.

The National Financial Literacy Programme

Helps me understand how to reach my dream.

The Central Bank helps us learn what to do,

So financial knowledge can guide me through.

I’ll make wise choices and prepare for my future,

Because financial freedom is my goal to nurture.

So here is my formula, simple and true:

LEARN + PLAN + SAVE + SPEND WISELY = FINANCIAL FREEDOM!

I’ll start with small choices and watch my money grow,

Because the smartest money manager is the one who knows:

Financial freedom isn’t something I wait to find—

It starts with smart choices and a financially wise mind!

Money is something we all need,
So, learning about it can help me succeed.
Mummy says I need a simple formula I can use
To help me know how my money should be used.

First, I will make a plan and set my aim,
Because saving little by little will no longer let my money be the same.
I will keep track of all the expenses I make,
Forget about KFC and think carefully about the steps I need to take.

I will let my mummy put my money in a safe bank,
Since she works hard to care for me without needing any thanks.
We would have different accounts to keep
For things we need and goals we seek.

I will build up my savings day by day,
Even small amounts can help me along the way.
An emergency fund can help me prepare,
For unexpected problems that may appear.
Like when grandpa passed away and our money ran out so fast.
Boy! I just need something to last.

Mummy once said, “when spending your own money is what you choose,
A debit card is suitable for you to use.
A credit card, however, is different, you see,
It can mean borrowing money but carefully.
Your credit history matters too,
When you get older, it will help you.”

So, I will learn to make responsible choices each day
And don’t let careless spending lead me astray.
A financial institution is definitely the best option to help us save
And teach us how to be smart and brave.
A credit union can also help my family and I plan
And learn more about money whenever we can.

The Central Bank also has an important role,
Helping the country’s financial system on the whole.
The national economy is a matter of great interest that we share,
So, learning about money shows that we as a nation care.

A Financial Literacy Programme can help me learn
About saving money and how to earn.
Because these lessons can help me understand
How to make wise choices with money in my hand.

My personal goal is to save to attend university,
Receive my doctorate in medicine and give back to my country.
I will save, I will plan, and I will learn
And understand that money must be earned.

Now I know the importance of financial freedom for me,
I will save what I can and spend money slow
To have a greater chance of planning for tomorrow.
With knowledge and patience, I can now see,
A brighter financial future is waiting for me.