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.
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2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
297300 MWK ($368 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
. Yes I do have new goals that I did not have before receiving the money. My husband and I's new goal is to start a business. The money we have received is helping us invest in a business where by we shall be selling clothes in our area. We are hoping that the money will be able to pay our daughter's school fees the coming years. our daughter is in form 2 now in a school in Lilongwe.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion what GD does well is helping the poor by sending the cash transfers. In my case I have been sick for a while and the is a lot I was not going to handle on my own without GD's help. Without the help from GD I was still going to be able to send my daughter to school but it was going to be very hard for me and my husband because we have many other problems like finding food and managing our everyday lives. My husband and I are now using part of money we got from GD as capital to start a business. The business will help us as a source of income and this way we shall be able to pay for our daughters secondary education.
I don't see any areas were GD does not do way at the moment.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
We have spent most of our recent money improving our house. We managed to buy sand, iron sheets and cement so that we can plaster our house. we decided to improve our house because it was not in the best conditions. The rest of our money has been used for our daughter's school fees. She will start staying with a relative in Lilongwe so that she can go to a better school in the town.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
307200 MWK ($377 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was so happy when i got the transfers. All my life i had never received such an amount from a person or an organisation. This money came in the right time. The time i needed it most and i was so happy
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
My life has changed drastically since Givedirectly enrolled me in this programme. I now know my farming this year will be very productive
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used my transfer in buying 20 iron sheets which were 10 fit. I used the other money in my Agriculture where people were employed to farm in my two farms. I also saved some of the money for fertilizer and every other thing i might need in my farms. I also sent some of the money to my son who lives in Lilongwe with my brother. I sent him the money to help with his school work.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
The money will meant treatment for my dear wife and I will use the remaining money to buy cement to improve my house.
I married my wife 37 years ago and together we have five children and 5 grandchildren. My main occupation is farming, I am a cotton farmer. But currently due to lack of market for cotton, I rely much on piece works, from it I make K5000 per month. Mostly the money is used to buy basic needs like soap, food and clothes. But currently my biggest expenditure is paying for my wife's treatment.
My wife has been sick since 2017 were she is suffering from unknown diseases. We believe her Uncle Bewitched her, since she refused to have sex with him. At the moment my wife is at the spiritualist were she is been treated. We do not pay anything for her treatment but we are required to send food and other needs. I have always wish to send my wife to a specialist in Mangochi District Hospital but I have no money that will be used for transport and to cover for the cost that will be attached to it.
I build my house in 2010 from the money I got after selling cotton. The house is almost complete and is remaining with small little things for it to be completed such as cement floor, plastering, and painting. I will use the cash gift to buy all the necessary materials that will be used to complete it
Lastly I would like to thank Give Directly for coming up with the methodology, I believe the money will be used to improve the life of my family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I use to be happy in the afternoons because I was looking forward to chat or to hear stories from my wife, but currently I am not happy because I am not able to chat with her as we used to back then. Her illness has bought so much loneliness in my life.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced so far is decreasing of people who were buying cotton. As I told you, my financial dependence was on cotton farming which is no longer marketable. If the cotton market was still available, and the price was fair, I would have had a car at the moment.
