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?
My goal remains the same, to build a house for me and my children. I have lived nine (9) years in this thatched mud hut and during the rains, I will have to set buckets and dishes in the rooms to trap the water yet my house gets flooded. The condition is at it's worst state and changing it is my main goal.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly is the best organisation in the world. I don't know of anything they don't do well if you ask me. They give us unconditional cash transfers to better our lives, talk to us like family, show concern and care. That is so much to be grateful for.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used some of my most recent transfer to pay my children's school fees while another portion went towards buying sticks for my house project. The rest I am keeping to complete the buying materials soon.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
42500 LRD ($279 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My new goal is to build my house.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Givedirectly knows how to transfer cash to the rightful owner. You people do this so well until your see no one is cheated. I love this part of our work.
I dont see anything you people are bot doing well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My most recent was spent to get Zinc, gasoline and Zinc Nails.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
40375 LRD ($262 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I constantly went to the network spot 30 mins from my town to check my phone hoping that one day I will receive the alert and thankfully after several trials, I did. I was extremely happy when I received the transfer alert.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Leaving from my thatched mud hut into a concrete zinc house is a big difference. Although I have not completed the house, having the materials on hand now makes me feel like a house owner already.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I intend to build my house to leave the mud hut I currently live in. I have bought zinc and its on ground waiting for the next transfers to get other materials and start my house.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I plan to build myself a zinc house to leave this mud house. We have to put fire in this house every day to keep us warm which is very embarrassing. As you can see, the smoke is in the house is the way I think is affecting our lungs. Everyday I have to go to the swam to gather tatch, so I am tired with that, I deserve a better life too.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The last time I experienced joy was in August of this year when I harvested the first rice from my field. I have been buying food throughout the wet season so harvest from my farm will relief me from purchasing cup of rice and we can be able to save some money intended for rice purchase as well.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My main challenge now is finance to build my house. I don't have a sustainable source of income, I have to go in the bush to gather wild palm to produce oil before I can get cash to sustain my household, and cash generated through that means is not sufficient to buy me zinc to build a house.
