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.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Since 2019, I have been living in my neighbour's house. My major priority has always been to have my own house. I couldn't afford to build my own until I encounter GiveDirectly through that I have bought enough materials that can build my house. My thanks and appreciation to GiveDirectly to improve my living status.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly have done a lot good for us. GiveDirectly is like a God to us. It make for people to respect one another. GiveDirectly have brought a lot of great changes among poor people.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The money I received from GiveDirectly was used to buy two bundles of zinc and zinc nails. I surprise my mother with $10,000 Liberian Dollars. The balance money is in saving. Some will be used to pay for a second handed motorbike to start my own business.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
42500 LRD ($299 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I had previous plans before the coming of GiveDirectly cash transfer program. I have planned to build a house but there have been no way because I had no money to do it. After the death of father few years ago, my mother left me alone in the town and went in Monrovia. Life became very difficult for. Due to this reason, I could not afford to achieve this goal alone because the money to build a house is very too much. I could not be cutting palm like the way I used to do to achieve this goal. I would do that until I get old but luckily for me, GiveDirectly came in and I was fortunately enrolled on it's program. With this great help from Givedirectly, I believe that I have seen better future because there shall be a house that have been planned for.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
With frankly speaking, GiveDirectly have helped everyone of us that have had no source of major financial income to improve our lives. For this cause, I do not know anything that GiveDirectly does not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
With God, there is nothing that is impossible. I have never earned or even own such amount of money. With all the hard labour work that I have been doing, I have not made such money. Therefore, due to this reason, I decided to use portion of my first transfer to buy one bundle of zinc while the other portion is in saving club. For the second transfer, I have planed to buy three bags of cement with two bundles of zinc and pay the Sawyer to saw the planks for the roof of my future house.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
40375 LRD ($282 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
Wow! I was at the site of my palm oil production area when I received the message. I could not understand the message so I took it to one of my friends to read it better to me. When my friend told me that it was GiveDirectly cash transfer message, I was very happy and I began to celebrate and started jumping up and down. I was happy because it was my very first time in my life to receive such amount of money. I lost my father few years ago, and My mother left me in the village and went to the city. Life became very difficult for me to go through. I came up with a plan to cut palm and make red palm oil to sustain myself and get other essential needs for myself. GiveDirectly came into our village and I was enrolled on the program and I became a beneficiary of this program. When I receive my first transfer, I became very happy because I believe that I have gain my freedom from poverty and the stress my father's death had caused me.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Living with somebody who is not a relative is not something easy in life. This is the fourth year that I am living with the old man that is helping me have a roof over my head at this grown-up age. I took the old man that I am living with as a father but he is not taking me to be his son. I am thrown out of the house almost everytime I made a mistake. I will have to sleep with my friends and begg people to begg for me to be able to go back home. I've been feeling so sad about my life conditions but I had no solution due to lack of finance. However, since I received this cash transfer from GiveDirectly, I have been feeling complete and very important amongst all my friends in my village. I feel so happy at the moment.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I'd lost my father few years ago. My mother left me in the town and went in the capital city. Life became very difficult for me to the extent that I became to do hard labour jobs in the village. I became to cut palm to make palm oil to buy some essential needs to sustain myself. Going through all these struggles, I have lost hope in life all together until GiveDirectly Came into our town. I was fortunate to be eligible on the cash transfer program of GiveDirectly when they came in my town . My first transfer came and people became to give me so many advices on what to do with my money. I was able to listen to the good advices of people telling me to buy zinc and build a house for myself to stay in. Building a house for myself to stay is the best thing to do for the future when the transfer come from GiveDirectly. I am not getting any younger and I can't keep living with people. It was very enough for me to do because I felt that I had no future due to the hardships I been through. I have bought zinc and other building materials and also cutting some sticks to start my house project. I am also waiting for my second transfer to pay people and start with the erection of the house. I am kindly grateful to GiveDirectly for what they have done for me and giving me a better future through this means.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
If I am successful on this program to receive cash frm Givedirectly, I want to build my house, because I am living in someone else's house.I will also open a shop and start a business in my community.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I feel happy roday with the presence of GD in my community. With the cash transfer if I am successful, it will help to change my life in the positive direction as a young person.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am challenged financially. As a young person, I need a better life and this can be done through cash.My father has died and my mother is very old.I am a self supporter, because of the lack of money, dropped out of school and things have brcome very difficult for me,getting food for myself is not easy.