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 plan is to build a house, because I am living with one of my sister in their house.
So when I received the the second money money, I decided to build instead of living in people houses
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Let me say a big thank you to Givedirectly family for the wonderful work they continue to do for me and my family.
God will bless them
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I will use the money to add up my building materials for the house I am about to build in this town
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
42500 LRD ($278 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Yes I had plans to build my own house
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Give directly is doing well
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I'm planning on improving my house
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
40375 LRD ($270 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
On December 20, 2021 during the morning hours, I went to the latrine to free myself, while I was there, I heard people shouting in my town with excitement, I hurriedly ran to the town to know what was going on. When I came, I was told by one of them that GiveDirectly has sent money to our mobile money accounts, I couldn't check mine because I am illiterate so I asked my friend who is the townchief to help me. When he checked it, he told me that GiveDirectly has indeed sent money to my account also, I was so happy for the help because it is the first time for me to be helped in such a way especially now when things are so difficult for me and my family.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Before GiveDirectly came to this town, I have been sleeping on Palm tree leaves for many years, but through the transfer, I was able to buy a matress to sleep on which makes me more comfortable sleeping, I have been struggling also on how to send my son to school this semester but now all my worries are gone because I was able to pay my son school fees.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used my most recent transfer to buy matress to sleep on because for more than five years I have been sleeping on palm tree leaves, I also bought a traveling bag that I can use anytime I want to go out for a visit, I paid part of my son school fees because by next year he will be graduating from secondary School, I also bought sand that I can use to fix my room and the balance transfer was used for food.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I planned to build my own house, this house I am living in is not for me, I am paying a monthly rent of LBR 150 here. Of my age, people in the community will not take me seriously if I don't have my own dwelling place. I want to bring my children back home from Nimba, but I don't have sleeping place for them here so building a house will make the family reunions with my children after 10 years.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In August of this year, my friends and I decided to carry prospection for diamond and we got 7 points and we sold it and received 250 USD in return, so I was happy because it has been so long that I have not handle USD. I used my share of the cash to buy myself some clothes and food.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My main challenge now is finance, I have to burn fire coal, make cassava farm or go hunting in the night in order to earn cash to sustain myself. Even that is not a sustainable sources of income. I am awarded of the environmental impact coal burning have on the society but we need to survive, so we see the threats but still continue with coal burning. It we have cash to sustain ourselves and start business, the coal industry will have a significant decline.
