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I did something like this for 2 years using MTN as well to pay a farmer family in rural Uganda every month but I had met them first through a friend, wouldn't t

I did something like this for 2 years using MTN as well to pay a farmer family in rural Uganda every month but I had met them first through a friend, wouldn't trust Olx and other sites though a few times I sent money randomly that way. It was literally spare bitcoin change I had in various wallets that inflated to a ridiculous price and I exchanged them directly to mobile money, then transferred it for 24mos. As other posts point out, it is a risk to flood a foreign market with capital though, you could help one family but screw over people you don't know about who's income ceases because you interfered and your patronage displaced their daily hustle somehow. When I discovered another large bounty of old coins I was hesitant to try this again since I know jack about the local economy. Paying for education seems a better plan, through somebody you know to take a pro makeup/hair course or some other trade. Pro training they can then start their own small business and train an assistant, there's no work in any of these countries like Uganda. Edit, there's a Gambian newspaper where people can go to their office and request help that's published. Better than random CL/Olx giving http://foroyaa.gm/category/those-who-need-help/ http://foroyaa.gm/category/those-who-need-help/

pw 8y ago
This isn’t addressing your point and I’m not saying your doing this, but, as I’ve told people here and elsewhere about my idea, it’s interesting how readily they come up with criticisms. I guess this is the classic reaction to cash transfers, but it’s still interesting to see it in action. I wonder how much of it is just people finding excuses not to be generous. I’m a pretty generous person in general, but it’s amazing how much my heart has opened upon having a personal connection to people in such need. Right now I’m not only giving as much as I can, but I’m looking for ways to earn more so I can give more. That personal connection and everything that flows from it is, I think, the unique benefit of this approach. As for finding people via Olx, I should be clear (as I think I stated in another comment), I’m not putting up a post saying that I’m looking to give money away to those in need. That would just make me a target. Instead, I go through various sections of the site and contact posters that seem like they might be on the lower end of the socioeconomic spectrum. Given this approach and given the scale I’m doing this on, there’s basically zero chance that I’m sending money to someone that set out to scam me. I’d actually be more leery of a system like you mentioned with The Gambian newspaper, because it has the potential to attract scammers. There’s some chance that folks may be exaggerating their need to receive more money than I’d otherwise give them, but I talk to my recipients extensively and form very real, meaningful and lasting relationships with them and, in the process, collect a lot of what you could call “collateral evidence” (like photos), so I end with what I really think is a very accurate picture of their lives. Moreover, if this type of exaggeration is happening it’s netting people something on the order of tens of dollars. Both through correlating what different recipients have told me and through independent research, I’ve got a good sense of what the cost of living is there and what is and isn’t a reasonable amount of money. So if someone says they need $310 a month (the most I send anyone) to support their family when they really need $300, it really matter doesn’t matter, and I don’t care.

pw 8y ago

This isn’t addressing your point and I’m not saying your doing this, but, as I’ve told people here and elsewhere about my idea, it’s interesting how readily they come up with criticisms. I guess this is the classic reaction to cash transfers, but it’s still interesting to see it in action. I wonder how much of it is just people finding excuses not to be generous. I’m a pretty generous person in general, but it’s amazing how much my heart has opened upon having a personal connection to people in such need. Right now I’m not only giving as much as I can, but I’m looking for ways to earn more so I can give more. That personal connection and everything that flows from it is, I think, the unique benefit of this approach. As for finding people via Olx, I should be clear (as I think I stated in another comment), I’m not putting up a post saying that I’m looking to give money away to those in need. That would just make me a target. Instead, I go through various sections of the site and contact posters that seem like they might be on the lower end of the socioeconomic spectrum. Given this approach and given the scale I’m doing this on, there’s basically zero chance that I’m sending money to someone that set out to scam me. I’d actually be more leery of a system like you mentioned with The Gambian newspaper, because it has the potential to attract scammers. There’s some chance that folks may be exaggerating their need to receive more money than I’d otherwise give them, but I talk to my recipients extensively and form very real, meaningful and lasting relationships with them and, in the process, collect a lot of what you could call “collateral evidence” (like photos), so I end with what I really think is a very accurate picture of their lives. Moreover, if this type of exaggeration is happening it’s netting people something on the order of tens of dollars. Both through correlating what different recipients have told me and through independent research, I’ve got a good sense of what the cost of living is there and what is and isn’t a reasonable amount of money. So if someone says they need $310 a month (the most I send anyone) to support their family when they really need $300, it really matter doesn’t matter, and I don’t care.