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 had attended a burial in the neighboring village when I heard my phone beep while the ceremony was going on. I quickly checked it and saw that I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy inside, but I couldn’t show it because I was surrounded by people mourning. I had already planned how I would use the money, and knowing I could now fulfill all my plans made me feel relieved and excited. I am grateful, GiveDirectly.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
When my bed completely broke, I had no choice but to borrow a small one from my mom temporarily, promising to return it once I could buy my own. The bed was small, but we had to squeeze in with my two children just to have some sleep. At that point, comfort did not really matter. When I received my first transfer from GiveDirectly, I was able to buy a new, big bed and a comfortable mattress. I returned my mom's bed and saved myself the embarrassment of being reminded every day, "When are you buying your own bed?" Now we can sleep in peace, and for that, I thank GiveDirectly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When my bed completely broke down, I had no choice but to borrow a small one from my mom to use temporarily, squeezing in with my two children. When I received my first cash transfer from GiveDirectly, I made buying a new bed and mattress my priority, which cost $75 plus $5 for transport from town. My house was also damaged by termites, especially the door, so I spent $18 on frames, nails, and labor to repair it. As a farmer, I rely on my generator for irrigation, but it had been faulty, so I used $17 to fix it. I also gave my children $17 to buy clothes, as they had worn-out ones. Before, I could only afford to prioritize food due to my limited income from my weekly vegetable business. I had also taken a loan from a microfinance, and paying it back has been hard, so I used $20 to reduce the balance, which still leaves $80. Finally, I spent the rest on food since we had none and often buy it daily or on credit when money is tight.
Enrolled
access_time 3 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
Receiving this money means realizing my dream of becoming a tailor. When I buy a tailoring machine($150) in 2 months, I will be so excited to finally utilize my skills 5 years later. I will also spend about $200 to put up a pit latrine at home. This will earn me so much dignity!
What is the happiest part of your day?
I am happy to have put up a kitchen garden a month ago. Beside my 4 children and I getting a good diet, I am making a small income from selling vegetables to my neighbors.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
During the prolonged drought a few months ago, the extreme heat caused our farms to wither and seasonal river to dry up. I did not have food in my farm and could not find jobs from my neighbors as well. Consequently, my children have often missed school due to food security and lack of income.
