For Millennials and Gen Z, years of financial instability have resulted in a toxic mix of wage stagnation and inflation which has made it difficult to survive on even a middle-class salary. Those who set up a side hustle to supplement their income are not driven by greed, boredom or social media; their side hustle is born of pure necessity.

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Have you ever wondered how Yala's artisans get paid? In countries where there are no free banking options for citizens, workers have to get creative with their income. M-Pesa mobile money, pioneered in Kenya, is a digital wallet that gives unbanked individuals a way to take charge of their money.

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In developing countries, most artisans do not have the luxury of pursuing their craft for the sake of passion or fun. Artisans in the informal economy are known as survival entrepreneurs; they don’t live to create, but create just to be able to live.

These concepts help reaffirm the need for fair prices for beautiful artisanal, handmade goods, and also shed a little light on the real human narrative behind the products.

Learn what you can do to support artisans in developing nations.

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