Eight years ago, development workers arrived at the remote village of Yebe. "They didn't give us any money but they explained how to build up a co-operative bank", states the village elder. With a loan of only 30 euros, Mama Coulibaly was able to buy a sack of corn which she sold at a profit. "I was able to pay back the money very quickly and I got another loan. My business developed in this way". Today she runs a small shop and is the only person in her village to have a television. As another villager sates; "This bank has opened up opportunities for us which were unthinkable eight years ago".