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 home that evening doing my household chores when my daughter, who helps me because I am not very familiar with using a mobile phone, rushed over to me. She had my phone and excitedly informed me that we had received $180 from GiveDirectly. I was so happy because I knew that my problems had come to an end. The first thought that came to my mind was to use the money to buy bedding so I could finally sleep on a bed. This support meant so much to me, as it would improve my quality of life and bring comfort to my home.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest change in my life since I started receiving cash transfers from GiveDirectly is the ability to sleep on a mattress. Before this, I had no choice but to sleep on the floor, which was uncomfortable and difficult, especially given my old age. Now, every night I enjoy a restful sleep, which has greatly improved my overall well-being. Additionally, I no longer feel embarrassed when I have visitors because I can now offer them chairs to sit on. This small but significant change has made my home a more welcoming place, allowing me to welcome guests comfortably and enjoy their company without the worry of inadequate seating. Overall, these improvements have brought a sense of dignity and comfort to my daily life.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After receiving $180 from GiveDirectly and the initial excitement wore off, I focused on achieving my goals. I used $60 to buy a new mattress. Previously, I had to sleep on the floor with makeshift bedding, which was uncomfortable, especially considering my old age. Now, I enjoy a good night’s sleep and look forward to bedtime, a feeling I had not experienced before. I spent $50 to buy food, which was a huge relief since I have no farm due to the floods that swept it away, and I no longer have the energy for casual labor. This situation had forced me to rely on my daughter for support, which added an extra burden on her. Now, I have enough food to eat. Finally, I used $32 to buy chairs, making it possible to welcome guests with dignity. In the past, I felt embarrassed to have guests because there was nowhere for them to sit.
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access_time 3 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
Receiving GiveDirectly cash transfers is like a huge blessing to my family because life will not be the same again. I am planning to use my first cash transfers to buy bed plus mattress so that we can sleep comfortably at night, buy plastic chairs and buy food for my family. Iam living in slope iron sheet house which is very hot during the day considering our climate condition. Therefore, I will use the second transfers to raise my iron sheet house to be cable design and I will also connect my house to electricity because the company disconnected due to pending bill. I will use the last transfers to buy goats and sheep for my family so that I will raise them on my own. I will use the remaining money to construct a small kitchen for my family so that we can cook comfortably when it is raining.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I am very grateful to God for good health despite the challenges we are facing everybody in my household is healthy and at least we have food on the table and this really encourages me to continue pushing on because each and every day has its own blessings.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Financial challenges is the main thing we facing because iam very old and iam not able to do any casual labour to provide for my family of 3 people. We depend on our children and our few goats for food and other basic needs.
