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.
Dama's family
access_time over 3 years ago
Dama enrolled.
"Receiving this money means food security for my family. I have been struggling to put a meal on my table for long. I engage in subsistence farming but the production is very low because I still use the traditional farming methods using the hoe. This has rendered my family food insecure year in year out. I am planning to use 400 dollars to buy one pair of ox-plough for farming each valued at 200 dollars. This means I will be able to till a larger piece of land which translates to improved food productivity. I will further use 500 dollars to buy two indigenous dairy cows for milk production both for domestic consumption and for sale."
Shalody's family
access_time over 3 years ago
Shalody enrolled.
"Receiving this money means that I can start my tailoring business. I took a tailoring course in 2011. Ever since then I have been yearning to start my business but lacking capital since I rely on casual jobs as the only source of income. I get about $3 per day that I use to buy foodstuffs for my family. When I get this money, I will spend about $400 to buy clothing materials to begin with since I already have a sewing machine and the customers. I expect to start making upto $500 per day that will cover both household needs and education for my children."
Janet's family
access_time over 3 years ago
Janet received a $487 second payment.
"My life is different than how it would have been if I never received the transfers in that I have renovated my house to look better. I used to live in mud floor house. I we were being exposed to dust. I depend on small scale farming and the harvest that we get annually is so small and only for consumption I didn't had any surplus to sell to earn an income to renovate my house. My children were being exposed to dust particles. Dust related diseases is so costly to treat. I was so worried, it has always been my dream to cement the floor of my house. When I received the second transfer I found it wise to build cement and other materials needed. I Currently I live in free dust floor and we are no longer exposed to dust. Cleaning the floor nowadays is so simple and take less minutes compare to mud floor. I am now so happy. GiveDirectly has made my dream come through. I am so grateful and thankful for the support because GiveDirectly has changed my living standard."
Rachel's family
access_time over 3 years ago
Rachel received a $487 second payment.
"I spent part of the money I received from GiveDirectly to build a better and spacious house. I live in a small grass thatched house which is leaking from inside. The construction is on going, I will be so happy to move to a better house where I will no longer exposed to cold. I still have some money and I am planing to buy sofa set seats for the new house, water tank for storing water for domestic use and food for the family. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has changed my living standard."
Rusi's family
access_time over 3 years ago
Rusi received a $504 initial payment.
"The moment I received the transfer I felt so happy. I remember it was around 11am when I heard a ringtone message from my phone. I was on my farm cultivating. I do not know how to read so I took the phone to my daughter in law to check it for me. She told me it was a message confirming that I have received money from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy and stop what I was doing to celebrate the good news. I knew I would be able to buy a water tank which had been always my wish. I felt so happy and overwhelmed. My daughter in-law went and withdrew it. GiveDirectly has changed my living standard."
Alice's family
access_time over 3 years ago
Alice received a $504 initial payment.
"The moment I received the transfer I felt so happy. I remember it was around 10 am. I was on my farm when I heard a ringtone message from my phone. I reluctantly check it, I couldn't believe my eyes it was a message confirming that I have received money from GiveDirectly. I stop whatever I was doing and rushed home. I informed my spouse and children and the all celebrated. I withdrew the money the same day. Currently I have a dairy cow and this was always my dream."
Joseph's family
access_time over 3 years ago
Joseph received a $504 initial payment.
"The moment I received the transfer I felt so happy. I remember it was around 10 am when I heard a ringtone message from my phone. I was on my farm spraying my crops. I stopped to check it first. I couldn't believe my eyes, it was a message indicating that I have received money from GiveDirectly. I ran home to inform my family members. We celebrated together. I went to withdrew the money that same day and bought iron sheet for building the house. This was my first priority because we bad small house which could not host all the family comfortably. I am so grateful for the support because GiveDirectly has changed our living standard."
Charles's family
access_time over 3 years ago
Charles enrolled.
"I am currently living in a single grass touched house which is leaking. When I receive this money I will buy 0.1 acre of land with $500 and build a two roomed iron sheet house with $400. I will then give the remaining $100 to my wife to start a business to enable us earn income."
Wesley's family
access_time over 3 years ago
Wesley enrolled.
"Hunger and food shortages have been my biggest hardship. We rely on subsistence farming but, unfortunately, maize has not been doing well in our region making us depend on casual jobs to feed the family. What I earn from this job is not enough to buy us food. We at times skip meals or even use less preferred foods like tea and sweet potatoes for lunch or supper."
Zeddy's family
access_time over 3 years ago
Zeddy enrolled.
"When I receive this money I will buy two cows at $300 each and also use $200 to buy goats as it will boost my family income though sale of milk and goats in future. Now that we always experience perennial water shortage in our area, I will then set the remaining $200 to buy a plastic water tank so that I will be harvesting water during the rainy season."