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.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My life is full of uncertainties, my hubby and I are not lucky to be in a stable job. Casual jobs are the main source of family income, with this job we earn about $3 a day which is not enough for us. We are therefore living a life of hand to mouth. With our meager family income, we are unable to pay school fees for our two sons which is heartbreaking. My two acre piece of land is now lying idle and uncultivated. We are hopeful that the only way out of this poverty is through farming. The only setback is that we do not have that financial muscle to venture into crop farming.
What is the happiest part of your day?
It happened miraculously, I was in April 2014 when we harvested our beans which had matured in preparation for the next planting season. A week later our area was swept away by flash floods which ended up destroying our farms and homes. I am now using the three bags of beans to support my family of ten. This is making me feel happy.
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
Parents living under the same roof with grown up boys is taboo in my culture. This is embarrassing to me, I will therefore prioritize building my sons a single-roomed house which will cost $230 of my transfers from GiveDirectly. We never managed to plant maize crops this season as a result of the flash floods. To avoid perennial food shortage in my family, I will spend $150 to stock food for my family. Our area is also favorable for rearing and livestock keeping. I will buy ten goats and this will cost me $200 of my transfers.
