GDLive Newsfeed
We check in with people at each stage of the cash transfer process to see how things are going. Take a look at some of their stories as they appear here in real-time. Learn more about how recipients opt in to share their stories.
Patience's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Patience received a $244 fourth payment.
"GiveDirectly is doing well everything well and I want to encourage them to continue serving humanity in this unprecedented."
Salama's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Salama received a $435 second payment.
"Give Directly given has done well through the provision of unconditional cash transfers. I am pleased to be enrolled in the program and grateful that you visited the village and imparted more about the organizations and followed up even after giving out the funds to understand how we spent the money. I would request that as you enroll more, it is very important to advise recipients on the expenditure of their funds and help them have a plan before getting the funds."
Saumu's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Saumu received a $435 second payment.
"I have been living in a two-roomed house with my seven children. My husband is a driver by profession but is unemployed at the moment. The biggest challenge is educating my children who are in high school and others who want to join college. The first transfer was used to improvise my house from a two-roomed to a three-roomed house to accommodate my sons, who have grown and need their privacy. I spared a little and paid school fees for the five in primary school and food. The second transfer was in time for my eldest son to join the college of plumbing studies. I used $300 for his full-term fee for all the requirements he needed as a new student and also paid another $60 for his siblings in high school. The other $100 was used to buy a bed and a mattress for myself and the remaining was enough for food for the rest of the members of the family."
Gladys's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Gladys received a $435 second payment.
"My goal would be to open a clothing business. Currently, running a charcoal business has its advantages and disadvantages. Although I am making a profit in the business, there are so many risks and expenses derived from running the business. I am forced to pay a lot for the license and the transport. My research shows that the clothing business would cost more, but the risks are minimal and the profits are more compared to the charcoal business"
Esther's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Esther received a $450 second payment.
"Being a single mother of two has been a big challenge for me because it comes with a lot of responsibilities. As I moved back home, had to work as a charcoal burner to feed and educate my children. The instability of my finances is my biggest problem. When I got enrolled, I was living in a small single mud house with a broken door and collapsing wall, which forced me to use old rugs to cover the holes and support the house because I could not repair or build a better house. When I received the funds, part of the money bought building materials, and the little that remained like $100 paid my children’s school fees and bought food. I used my second transfer of $90 for my son’s treatment of a dog bite, which was severe and risky. I am grateful that the money came in time and at the moment he is fully recovered. I built one room with a verandah and had to part with $140 for the contractor. The remaining $330 bought nine goats which would come in handy in future hard economic times. Receiving money from GiveDirectly has been a blessing in my life, thus I am grateful."
Jumwa's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Jumwa received a $435 second payment.
"Since I received two transfers and I am not going to receive any longer, I would save little by little from my business to buy two more hectares of land and build m my house, eat well, and do farming. I would like to request GiveDirectly to at least consider me by adding more funds."
Tabu's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Tabu received a $435 second payment.
"I would like to grow my business with time. Educate my children and support them with daily basic needs fully. As I face my daily life, there is still a lot to do in life and I have not reached it. I hope for the best as time goes by."
Kazungu's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Kazungu received a second payment.
"I work as a night guard in a government school near the village getting a salary of $1.5 a day. This money is not enough to take care of myself and my child. I separated from my wife two years ago but we are in touch because of my child. Every term I pay my child's school fees. Receiving this transfer has enabled me to buy a secondhand motorbike for $600. I plan to go for driving lessons, quit my job, and start a transportation business."
Mercy's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Mercy received a $435 second payment.
"Because of both the first and second transfers, I was unable to account for the building of a new house. I am currently hoping to start gathering the necessary supplies, which I will subsequently utilize to build a separate house for my four children. They had been sleeping in the kitchen for the entirety of the time, which is quite small and rarely kept clean, especially during the rainy season. They will be more comfortable and have more room to read each evening after school if a new one is built for them."
Emmaculate's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Emmaculate received a $435 second payment.
"The finest thing that has occurred to me, and to everyone I have interacted with so far in our village, was the freedom to spend the money anyway we saw fit after obtaining the receipt. I was appreciative that I could create a plan, oversee it, and only report on its progress when GiveDirectly officers called. Rather than responding to the village leaders' questions, GiveDirectly conducted in-person visits that allowed them to assess whether a potential enrollee matched the requirements. I am appreciative and hope that other villages may have similar experiences."