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?
I was at my neighbor's farm doing some casual work when the message arrived, just as I finished for the day. The moment I saw the notification, my heart jumped with joy—I knew it was the money from GiveDirectly. I couldn’t wait to share the news, so I immediately called my wife, who was at her mother’s home, and told her the money had finally come. I asked her to come home quickly so we could sit down and plan how to use it. We needed to budget carefully, especially for the school fees that had been keeping me up at night. My children were close to being sent home, but now there was hope we could pay in time.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Before receiving the transfer, life was very difficult because my wife and I struggled to save money from our casual jobs, which only paid us $3 a day. This small amount was barely enough for food, and saving for school fees was nearly impossible. We were constantly worried about how to keep our children in school. However, after receiving the money from GiveDirectly, things changed. I was able to pay the school fees, which took away a lot of stress. Now, we can focus on other needs, and I feel much more at ease.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Life has been a constant struggle for me and my family, especially with five children to care for. My wife and I often rely on casual jobs just to cover the basics—mostly for school fees and food. The hardest part has been my daughter's illness. She suffers from liver cirrhosis, and her medication costs more than we can ever manage to save. Every month is a battle, and without a steady source of income, we’ve been living day by day, unsure how long we could keep going. When the cash transfer arrived, it felt like a heavy weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I immediately used $120 to pay my children's school fees, which brought immense relief as they were close to being sent home. The pressure of balancing their education with our other needs had been overwhelming, but with that money, I knew they could stay in school for a little while longer. Additionally, I spent $60 on food, ensuring my family wouldn’t have to worry about meals for some time.Although my daughter’s illness remains a major challenge, and we still need a lot of money for her treatment, I’m grateful for the chance to breathe a little easier. Knowing that my children’s education and basic needs are secure, this has given me some peace of mind.
Enrolled
access_time 3 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
Raising school fees for my two children in secondary school has been a challenge. We plan to prioritize this by spending $500 to settle their balances and pay some upfront. This will ensure my children can stay in school for the next year. Good education for them ensures more opportunities in the future.
Farming is a lucrative venture here, we plan to plant one acre of maize. It will cost approximately $200. The profits will sustain us and also help in paying school fees. We'll also have food for home use.
Our house is not in a good condition, we need to do some repairs. It's cold at night due to the holes on the walls. The remainder of the transfer of about $300 will help restore our home. It means we can sleep well at night, and my children can also study comfortably at night.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My wife and I recently got employed to guard a neighbor's maize farm. We are paid $60 monthly. This amount has been sustaining my family. It's a joy having this job to support our family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Education is a key to a better future, I believe that. I've been pushing to educate my five children well. Two of them are currently in secondary school and paying their school fees is hectic. Sometimes they are sent home due to fee balances. It worries me because of the time wasted instead of them focusing on their studies. The floods frustrated my efforts in farming hence diminished my returns. My one acre plantation of maize was swept away. This has led to financial constraints affecting my children's education.
