Money clubs help displaced Nigerians create their own safety nets

As the sewing machine hums, Hafsatu Hamman focuses on the fabric in front of her, carefully guiding it through the machine to keep the stitches in line.

This is a typical day at Hamman’s tin shack, where she sews clothes for residents of the Wassa displacement camp in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, for an average of ₦300 ($0.3) a set — akin to the price of a small loaf of bread. Before the end of the month, she is expected to contribute ₦ $4,000 ($5.20 USD) to her Adashe group. 

“We have a group of about 15 women.