Saturday, October 6, 2012

Chivirico tries to open a bank account


Chivirico came to the bank with me a couple of weeks ago and was totally fascinated by the ATM machine. The fact that I put my card in, and money came out astounded him. He stood there watching wide eyed as more people used the machine, and from that moment all he wanted was a bank card so that he too could go and use the machine.

I explained to him that you have to have an account with the bank, with money in it, in order to be able to take money out of the machine. That was it. His sole purpose became earning money to open a bank account.  He has washed the car (well the bottom half of it);



Fed the dogs.



Each time he gets paid a few pesos, but straight away goes to the colmado to spend them on a biscuit or sweets. I explained to him that if he spent all his money as soon as he had it, he would never have any to put in the bank. His reply was that he was hungry and it was more important to eat than put money in the bank and he could only save money if he wasn't hungry.

The discussion continued over a game of dominoes and I said that if he had 10 pesos he should spend 5 pesos on a biscuit and then save 5 for the bank. That appeared to be a satisfactory solution, and within a few days he had 15 pesos saved and we were prepared to go to the bank the next day to see about opening an account. He was beside himself with excitement.


The next morning arrived and once school was over Chivirico came to the house and announced he could not go to the bank as his father had come to the house and taken 10 of his 15 pesos to give to his brother and sister. His father had told him it was very important to share. This of course is true, especially in this country, and I remembered being in hospital when I was 5 to have my tonsils out and my grandmother sent me a box of chocolate teddy bears. The nurses told me it was important to share them with all of the children on the ward, with only one for me. I remember being heartbroken and furious at having to share my chocolate teddy bears so it was interesting to see that Chivirico just accepted that it was the right thing to do share his hard earned cash with his siblings, although  it meant that going to the bank was on hold until he could earn some more money.

The next day he earned some more, so off we went to the bank with 11 pesos.


We arrived there during lunch hour and so the bank was nearly empty. Chivirico sat down and put his 11 pesos on the counter and announced he would like to open an account. Unfortunately the children's accounts need a minimum of 500 pesos to open them, and he would not be able to have a card to take money out of the machine, it comes with a savings book.  The account must be opened by an adult and it is that adult who can take the money out, although Chivirico can pay it in. In order to open the account he just needs an adult to do it, a copy of his birth certificate – and 500 pesos.  He went into great detail at the bank about how he was earning money, and that it was best not to spend it all on sweets, concluding by saying he needed the money to buy a Jeep.  All of the bank staff were in total hysterics.


Although disappointed, he was not defeated. We got home and he made a money box out of a Gatorade bottle, and I have told him when it is full then we can go back to the bank and open his account. We just need to decide who the responsible adult will be!  The money in the bottle appears to be going up and down,  although it is counted several times a day. I think it is probably being raided for sweets and biscuits at the colmado.

One day he will have his bank account. In the meantime, if you want to keep up with his activities on a regular basis,  he now has his own Facebook page, set up by one of his fans - Chivirico the Body Guard.

10 comments:

  1. This is wonderful. I hope that he gets to save the 500 pesos to be able to open his account. When my younger brother and I were young, our mother opened a bank account for each of us and every chance she had she set aside some money for us. We come from a barrio in SPM so were like any ordinary barrio person at the time. Now that we are older we are very responsible with our money and know how to save as from a very young age we have worked in the family business and she made us open up an account on our own so that we know how to save and be responsible with our money.

    Unfortunately many parents in the DR don't think of doing this for their children and rather just spend the money right away even in things that they don't need. I hope that with you doing this Chivirico's father is influenced and tries his best to help him out and to do the same for his other children.

    Now, I know that sometimes you have to share with your brothers and sisters but to me I think that the dad was wrong to take some of the money to give to the siblings as he should be responsible to provide for his other children and not have to 'share' Chivirico's hard earn money with the others. But anyway I hope all works out well for Chivirico.

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    1. Jay thank you so much for this. It is lovely to hear that sometimes it works trying to teach the kids about money, and what a great mum you had to do that for you. I am not convinced I can teach his father - Chivirico lives with his grandmother and his dad lives with another wife, not Chivirico's mum. But I will try.

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  2. Hey Linds, the little guy will go far!

    Shame he worked so hard to earn money though and then his Dad made him share his stache with his lazier siblings. It may teach him to share, but teaches them to sit on their butts while others provide. Good on you though for teaching him the value of money. Perhaps you should become a teacher :)You are very wise and kind.

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    1. True about kids learning to sit on butts - happens a lot, just one person works and provides for everyone. I did the teaching thing once - lecturing!

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  3. I can easily relate to Chivirico's fascination with the ATM machine. When I was a kid, the magical banking apparatus were checks. Seemed like my parents could just write a check and pay for everything. When they said, quite often, "we have no money" I would say, "just write a check."

    Again, I am very fond of Chivirico and believe he is learning a lot from the gringa who is his neighbor. Your influence on him may be profound someday. In addition, I have no problem asking him to share. Let's face it, Chivirico's brother and sister probably doesn't live next door to a kind foreign woman who gives them money for little jobs. Chivirico, while still working, does have a pretty incredible opportunity that many Dominican kids don't get.

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    1. You are right re opportunity and I hope that I will have some influence on him. There are dozens of kids living nearby, he just somehow wormed his way into our affection, beginning with daily visits to the gate, and now he just comes and goes as he pleases. It is a shame more kids don't get the chance you are right. Maybe every foreigner here should help at least one kid - I know many do.

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  4. I am always fascinated with Chivirico stories, he seems to be such a bright and ingenious kid, hope he will use that ingenuity to have a successful life. He is lucky to have you as a mentor! I feel sorry he had to share his hard earned money though...
    I will follow him on facebook too!

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    1. Thanks for following him on Facebook! His ingenuity knows no bounds, I never know what he will come up with next!

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  5. LIndsay, what a lovely blog. I loved the bit about buying a Jeep. Keep up the good work with Chivirico, at least he won't become a Sankey in later life.

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  6. I'm sure Chivirico will go far in life. I do hope so, he's a great little boy.

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