Sending money home: The world of remittance transfers | DW Documentary

Every year, family members send hundreds of billions of dollars back to their home countries from abroad. This direct flow of money exceeds levels of global development aid. For nations like Ghana in West Africa, it’s a huge economic factor. Linda lives in Ghana and is working to build a future for herself. But even with a good education, that’s no easy matter in West Africa. Jobs are scarce, while rents and the cost of living in the capital, Accra, are horrendous. Linda gets support from family members living in Germany. Many people in the migrant diaspora regularly transfer money to their home countries, including Linda's parents. Hundreds of billions in "remittance” transfers are sent across the world every year, more than all development aid combined. These funds play a decisive economic role in countries like Ghana. The German development agency GIZ wants to use existing cashflows to create new jobs in Africa, and Linda may be among those to benefit. By getting involved in an initiative called WIDU, she may be able to become self-employed in Accra. This report takes place over two continents and tells the story of family members who remain close despite the distance between them, and who have each found a home in their own way. #documentary #dwdocumentary #remittance_transfers #Ghana #Germany ______ DW Documentary gives you knowledge beyond the headlines. Watch top documentaries from German broadcasters and international production companies. Meet intriguing people, travel to distant lands, get a look behind the complexities of daily life and build a deeper understanding of current affairs and global events. Subscribe and explore the world around you with DW Documentary. Subscribe to: ⮞ DW Documentary (English): https://www.youtube.com/dwdocumentary ⮞ DW Documental (Spanish): https://www.youtube.com/dwdocumental ⮞ DW Documentary وثائقية دي دبليو (Arabic): https://www.youtube.com/dwdocarabia ⮞ DW Doku (German): https://www.youtube.com/dwdoku ⮞ DW Documentary हिन्दी (Hindi): https://www.youtube.com/dwdochindi For more visit: http://www.dw.com/en/tv/docfilm/s-3610 Follow DW Documentary on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwdocumentary/ Follow DW Documental on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dwdocumental We kindly ask viewers to read and stick to the DW netiquette policy on our channel: https://p.dw.com/p/MF1G