Hidden Aid is a two part series examining how money comes to the poor regions of the world, not through government aid, not through trade, but in the form of remittances. This is money sent home by immigrant workers in the industrialised world.

Globally this “Hidden Aid” is thought, in total, to exceed economic aid by more than a quarter. In parts of Mexico remittances are a lifeline for whole communities; in Ghana remittance money is a key factor in new businesses.

In both cases, immigrant communities make personal sacrifices for the folks back home.