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.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
That day when the money came, I was very happy, a kind of joy I had never felt before. I was on my way back from my neighbor's house when I saw the message. I thought about calling my husband to tell him the news, but I decided to wait until he got home in the evening. When he arrived, I told him, and we all celebrated with our children. Everyone was happy. It felt like the whole village was happy too because I got so many calls from neighbors asking if I had received the money. The first thing I thought about was my two sons in college. I didn’t want them to be sent home or miss exams because of school fees, so I decided right away to pay for their fees and make things easier for them.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
It used to be very hard to get school fees for my children. I even had to organize fundraisers, like in June this year, just to keep them in school. My work is casual labor, and earning $3 a day is barely enough for food, so saving for school fees or other needs was impossible. But I thank God because, after getting the cash transfer, I no longer have to worry about that. My children are doing well in school, and I feel so relieved. I recently went to the school and asked the teacher to keep them in class until I receive my second transfer to clear the arrears for those in secondary school. Now, I feel like my burden is lighter, and I can see a better future for their education.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I got the cash transfer, it felt like a blessing. The first thing I thought about was my children's education. I used $100 to pay their school fees because I didn’t want them to miss out on school. My husband and I are casual laborers, but life has been hard since he got sick with tuberculosis. He can no longer do heavy work, so I’ve had to take on most of the work. Keeping my children in school was important because I know education is the way to a better life. After paying the fees, I used $75 to buy food for the family. We have 12 people in the house, including my two grandchildren, and we were really struggling. Before the cash transfer, we were often hungry and only eating one meal a day. But now, thanks to the help from GiveDirectly, we can eat three times a day.With the last $5, I bought clothes for my grandchildren. It hurt me to see them in torn clothes, but we didn’t have enough money to buy new ones before. Now, they look neat and comfortable, and seeing them happy makes me happy too. The cash transfer has changed our lives in so many ways, and I am truly grateful.
Enrolled
access_time 4 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
Quality education is what I desire for my children and grandchildren. Having seven school going children has not been easy to sustain but I am happy because the transfers will lessen the burden. I will use the transfers to pay school fees and purchase stationery.I plan also on purchasing goats from which I can sell when they multiply. I am happy because my children will continue with their education normally upon receiving the money from Givedirectly. At the same time I will not bother people to fundraise for me because the goats will multiply and I can sell to cater to all the needs of my family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
A month ago, I called upon my friends and relatives to help me raise school fees for my children. I am happy because I raised $350 which I was able to send back my children to school after they had stayed for long at home. Since then I have had a peaceful mind compared to previously when I had none.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Financial constraints are the greatest challenge for me. I have three children in high school and three in the colleges. It is difficult to raise their school fees considering I depend on farming to earn a living. Currently I have $240 in arrears school fees and I am forced to depend on fundraising from friends and relatives to make ends meet.
