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 sitting outside my home, enjoying the fresh air. At eight months pregnant, I was feeling a bit tired, but it was a peaceful moment. Suddenly, I heard a notification on my phone. Curious, I reached for it and saw a message from GiveDirectly. They had sent me $200!
Excitement rushed through me, and my heart filled with joy. The first thought that came to mind was how I could use this money to pay school fees for my children. With this, they could open the term on time, and their education could continue without interruptions.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference since I received cash transfers from GiveDirectly has been in my daughter’s education. For the first time, she was able to start school on time with the other students because her school fees were paid. Ever since I settled her fees, she has been in school consistently, unlike before when she spent many days at home due to a lack of fees. This used to put her at a disadvantage, but now she can focus fully on her studies.
Another major change was during my delivery. I was able to go through the process without the stress of worrying about huge hospital bills, which ensured my safety. After I was discharged, I returned home knowing that I had enough food to eat, which was a great relief.
These changes have made a big impact on my life and my family’s well-being, and I am so grateful to GiveDirectly for their support.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received $200 from GiveDirectly, I was so happy and thankful. I knew I had several priorities to take care of, so I decided to plan carefully. At that time, my daughter, who is in secondary school, was on vacation, but schools were about to open. I spent $50 on her school fees to ensure she could return without any delay. Since then, she has never missed school, unlike before when she often stayed home due to a lack of fees.
After taking care of that, I used another $50 to buy food. I made sure to buy enough, knowing that when my little one arrived, we would have enough to eat. With seven children, I also wanted them to feel the support. So, I used $50 to buy clothes for everyone in the household. This made my family happy, and they all appreciated the help.
Lastly, I set aside $50 for any emergencies related to my delivery. This money was a big help when the time came. I was able to go to the hospital and pay the bills, and now I’ve delivered safely. I’m so grateful to GiveDirectly for their support—it made a real difference in our lives.
Enrolled
access_time 4 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
When I receive my first transfer, I plan to allocate it towards food and clothing for my family of eight. For the second transfer, I will spend $200 on purchasing a goat as an investment for the future. This goat will provide us with additional resources and potentially a steady source of income. I will also use $80 to cover the school fees for my children in grade 8 and grade 9, ensuring their education continues smoothly. Furthermore, I intend to invest $100 in starting a fish business. This venture will help generate a profit that I plan to reinvest into opening a retail shop. With these steps, I am hopeful that my family will have a more reliable source of income. This stability will help us avoid falling into debt and improve our overall financial security.
What is the happiest part of your day?
As a family of eight dependent on casual jobs, life can be very challenging, especially when work is hard to come by. We often struggle with the uncertainty of not knowing when the next job will be available. Despite these difficulties, I am grateful that we have never gone without food. It is a relief that, even though money is tight, our basic need for food is consistently met and my children have always been healthy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am really struggling with paying the school fees for my two children, one in grade 8 and one in grade 9. Each year, I need to come up with $400 for both of them, but my daily earnings of $3 from casual jobs are barely enough to cover food for my family of eight. I often have to borrow money from neighbors, but I never manage to get the full amount needed. It is painful to fall into debt, and my children keep getting sent home from school because of overdue fees. I really hope I can find a solution that helps keep my children in school and eases the financial pressure on my family.
