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?
When I received my first transfers, I was overjoyed as I had no other person to depend on for financial support. Due to my old age, I can't do much to earn so income but I thank God for Give Directly who came at the right time when I needed assistance.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the construction of a new house which I never had before. For a long time, I have been praying over this idea of constructing a new house that came to pass after receiving our first transfer. I am thankful that this had to happen at this time. Now I feel that am at the same level with the rest of the people in the community now having a good house and a fenced compound.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After receiving the first transfer from GiveDirectly, I had a lot in mind which I needed to accomplish. I needed a new house so I had to purchase woods and iron sheets to aid in construction. The house which i was living before was having leaking roof and was not good for me as it would expose me to cold related diseases. I also needed to fence our open fields to ease the grazing my livestock . I bought fencing poles and also a roll of barbed wire. I then spent the remaining portion on buying food for the family as I was remaining with little at that time.
Enrolled
access_time almost 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My desire is to sleep in a warmer house. My current grass roofed house is leaking and is getting colder especially during rainy seasons like now. My new corrugated iron roofed house will cost $220 of my first transfer. I also want to purchase a barbed wire for $55 so as to paddock my livestock farm.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening. After a long day of loneliness, my children often come to my house after coming out of school every evening. This makes me happy because we get to talk, share jokes and hearty conversation.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
For a very long time, I have been walking my donkey for 3 kilometers every day to fetch clean water. With my old age this is becoming a very difficult task by the day. My worry is that I may end up getting water from a nearby water pan since it's less tedious. However, this my pose a serious health hazard and indignity at my old age.
