For millions of families, many of them low-income, remittances are a crucial source of financial security. Global migration continues to increase everyday, with over 258 million individuals today residing outside of their country of birth. With the devaluation of the Egyptian pound (reaching 30 EGP against the US dollar in January), there is an increasing likelihood that the difficult circumstances in Egypt will trigger more migration. Desperate and vulnerable are the only correct terms to describe the situation of many low-income Egyptians today. Numbers, graphs, and media headlines alone do not show the full picture of the struggles that have intensified over the past year, with the Egyptian pound now devalued by more than 70 percent since March 2022. Everything, down to Egypt’s most affordable meal, koshary, is now also becoming more expensive. Against these circumstances, Egyptians abroad cannot afford to pay high transfer fees or spend days waiting for remittances to be sent back home to their families. For low-wage labourers, the money they send back home is a lifeline for their communities back home, helping them pay school or university fees and buy homes. Big money transfer companies…
