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?
It was around 5pm, and I was at home preparing vegetables for dinner when my daughter excitedly told me there was a message on my phone showing the receipt of the transfers from GiveDirectly. In that moment, I was overwhelmed with joy and immediately thought about how I could finally buy beds for our household. I quickly called my husband who works away from home to share the wonderful news, and he was equally excited. Together, we began to plan how we were going to spend the money in order to improve our family's living conditions.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I really thank God that I have been able to buy new beds, and I am so excited since I now have a nice mattress. Before receiving the transfers from GiveDirectly, we used to sleep on the floor on a mat. It could get so cold at night, and there were small ants that would bite us, making it difficult to get a good night's sleep. But now, with the new beds and mattresses, everything has changed for the better. I feel so much at peace knowing that my children can now sleep through the night. They no longer have to endure the discomfort of sleeping on the cold, hard floor or suffer from ant bites.The transfers from GiveDirectly have truly transformed our lives, providing us with comfort and security that we never had before.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Receiving the unconditional cash transfer was a life-changing moment for me and my family. The first thing I did was spend $300 to buy two beds and their matresses: one for myself and another for my children. We have seven children, five of whom are in school, while the other two have not yet reached school-going age. Prior to this, we all used to sleep on the floor, which was uncomfortable and unhealthy. I had always wished to buy a bed but could never afford it. Next, I used $150 to buy four goats which are a practical choice because they multiply quickly and are resilient to the frequent droughts we experience in our area. This small herd will help us build a sustainable source of income over time. Additionally, I paid $80 in school fees for my five children who are all in primary school. Lastly, with the remaining $20, I bought food for my household which may not seem like a lot, but this helped us get through some tough days and provided us with the basic sustenance we needed. It really feels empowering to make decisions that positively impact my family’s life and I will forever be grateful to GiveDirectly.
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access_time 8 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
Changing my social status is something that I admire the most in my life. Despite having this ambition, it has remained a dream because of my financial status. With the transfers from GiveDirectly, I intend to use a portion of it to invest in livestock more so goats. This will act as my reliable investment since they quickly multiply within a short period. I plan to start with 5 goats which will cost me $200, an investment that will support my family in the future. Part of the money ($300) will help me to add another room for my children because we all spend our nights in one room. Culturally, this is unacceptable since some of my children are grown up. On the other hand, I will spend the remaining amount to support my children's education as well as to buy new beddings to replace the old ones. Therefore, this is basically what receiving this money means to me.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In the past 6 months, one thing that I count to have been my source of joy is the way my husband has strongly stood out as a caring man. Despite having financial challenges at work, he has consistently been supporting us at home. Since we already have food in the store, he ensures to send us $5 every week to support us on basic needs. This makes me feel proud of him and hence, I consider this as what gives meaning to my life.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
As a caretaker, my husband earns a daily pay of $5, an amount that my family of 10 depend on. Since I am jobless, I do not have anything to supplement this. My children might go hungry the whole day in the event when he fails to send us cash. This situation has robbed away my joy as a mother because watching my children desperately at home is something that pains most. Hence, financial constraints stands out as my major challenge.
