The incredible rise of migrants' remittances
Families naturally sacrifice for one another and nowhere is this seen more clearly than in emigrant communities around the world. In 2012 alone, emigrants sent more than $540 billion dollars to their families back home as remittances. This sacrificial giving has grown so much in the past two decades that “the worldwide total of remittances was more than 2.5 times the sum that was spent on” development aid.[2] According to the Guardian, “For decades it was a largely unnoticed feature of the global economy, a blip of a statistic that hinted at the tendency of expatriates to send a little pocket money back to families in their home countries. But now, the flow of migrant money around the world has shot up to record levels as more people than ever cross borders to live and work abroad.”[1]
As Christians, we are family, right?
As Christians, we too give to our brothers and sisters around the world, inspired by Christ whose sacrificial death made it possible for all of us to be family, adopted as Children of God. “So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.” Hebrews 2:11 (NLT) But what about sacrificial giving? Can we, who are not biological family to the poor function truly as spiritual family, inspired by the example of Christ and our emigrant neighbors? Can we focus on the family in such a way that their marriages could stay in tact and they could tuck in their children at night and read them an evening devotion? Do these families matter?
Guilt or Family obligation?
Inspired by my first high-school mission trip to Mexico what I saw there impacted my desire to give sacrificially. The question that has haunted me for decades, “Would I let my family suffer if I had the means to alleviate it?” I sure hope not! Some may say that is motivated by guilt, but I call it family obligation. I’m not alone. The Guardian quotes Britain's shadow minister for international development, Rushanara Ali, "People feel an obligation. I've never heard someone with an origin in another country not feel a sense of obligation, or a sense of connection, or wanting to make a contribution." Ali, who was born in Bangladesh, believes the UK government should look at how remittances could complement aid spending. "There will always be pressures on budgets," she said. "The time is ripe for coming up with new ideas on how diaspora communities can make a contribution."
Effective giving?
The giving must also be effective because, despite all these investments, “over 7 million children globally under-5 years of age die each year mainly from preventable and treatable conditions,” according to the World Health Program (WHO).[3] All of these are sons and daughters of some mother with a broken heart, with aunts and uncles and siblings who will miss them terribly.
The vast majority of these deaths are preceded by an immune system that is compromised by malnutrition. Unfortunately, most of the estimated 2 billion people affected by micronutrient deficiencies, called "hidden hunger" don’t even know that their body’s health is being compromised by the lack of certain elements. Additionally substance abuse (lack of temperance) can greatly contribute to malnutrition for both the user and their impoverished family, suffering in the wake of abuse. Deaths are the tip of the iceberg of suffering with stunting causing irreversible damage in mental development and earning potential.
So do we, as Christians globally connected in the family of faith have the means to alleviate this suffering. Absolutely!! Rural villages bear the brunt of the disease burden because they are home to 75% of the worlds poor and few NGOs specifically target them. These are the families to focus on because these are the least likely to have remittances coming in from abroad. So reaching them, with training and resources that can help them thrive right where they are, keeping their families in tact is key.
Families naturally sacrifice for one another and nowhere is this seen more clearly than in emigrant communities around the world. In 2012 alone, emigrants sent more than $540 billion dollars to their families back home as remittances. This sacrificial giving has grown so much in the past two decades that “the worldwide total of remittances was more than 2.5 times the sum that was spent on” development aid.[2] According to the Guardian, “For decades it was a largely unnoticed feature of the global economy, a blip of a statistic that hinted at the tendency of expatriates to send a little pocket money back to families in their home countries. But now, the flow of migrant money around the world has shot up to record levels as more people than ever cross borders to live and work abroad.”[1]
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As Christians, we are family, right?
As Christians, we too give to our brothers and sisters around the world, inspired by Christ whose sacrificial death made it possible for all of us to be family, adopted as Children of God. “So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.” Hebrews 2:11 (NLT) But what about sacrificial giving? Can we, who are not biological family to the poor function truly as spiritual family, inspired by the example of Christ and our emigrant neighbors? Can we focus on the family in such a way that their marriages could stay in tact and they could tuck in their children at night and read them an evening devotion? Do these families matter?
Guilt or Family obligation?
Inspired by my first high-school mission trip to Mexico what I saw there impacted my desire to give sacrificially. The question that has haunted me for decades, “Would I let my family suffer if I had the means to alleviate it?” I sure hope not! Some may say that is motivated by guilt, but I call it family obligation. I’m not alone. The Guardian quotes Britain's shadow minister for international development, Rushanara Ali, "People feel an obligation. I've never heard someone with an origin in another country not feel a sense of obligation, or a sense of connection, or wanting to make a contribution." Ali, who was born in Bangladesh, believes the UK government should look at how remittances could complement aid spending. "There will always be pressures on budgets," she said. "The time is ripe for coming up with new ideas on how diaspora communities can make a contribution."
Effective giving?
The giving must also be effective because, despite all these investments, “over 7 million children globally under-5 years of age die each year mainly from preventable and treatable conditions,” according to the World Health Program (WHO).[3] All of these are sons and daughters of some mother with a broken heart, with aunts and uncles and siblings who will miss them terribly.
The vast majority of these deaths are preceded by an immune system that is compromised by malnutrition. Unfortunately, most of the estimated 2 billion people affected by micronutrient deficiencies, called "hidden hunger" don’t even know that their body’s health is being compromised by the lack of certain elements. Additionally substance abuse (lack of temperance) can greatly contribute to malnutrition for both the user and their impoverished family, suffering in the wake of abuse. Deaths are the tip of the iceberg of suffering with stunting causing irreversible damage in mental development and earning potential.
So do we, as Christians globally connected in the family of faith have the means to alleviate this suffering. Absolutely!! Rural villages bear the brunt of the disease burden because they are home to 75% of the worlds poor and few NGOs specifically target them. These are the families to focus on because these are the least likely to have remittances coming in from abroad. So reaching them, with training and resources that can help them thrive right where they are, keeping their families in tact is key.
