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 woke up to wonderful news. When I checked my phone, I saw that GiveDirectly had sent me $180. I was so happy and immediately shared the news with my husband. The first thought that came to my mind was to put my plan into action, knowing that this money would help bring my goals within reach.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life now is that I have been able to start farming, which has given me a reliable source of food. Having food security has been a huge relief, allowing me to focus on other priorities without constantly worrying about where our next meal will come from. I feel more stable and in control, knowing that I can provide for my family and work toward my long-term goals, like buying a safe plot of land. Farming has not only sustained us but has also brought me a renewed sense of purpose and direction.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon receiving $180 from GiveDirectly, I decided to return to my original plan. My goal was to buy a plot of land in a safer area, away from the risk of floods. After searching, however, I realized that I didn’t have enough money to purchase one. Thanks to the flexibility of these unconditional transfers, I decided to focus on farming instead.
I used $100 to plant beans on one acre, hoping for a good harvest. A successful crop would not only help me save for a plot in a secure location but also provide food for my family. With the remaining $80, I bought essential household items and stocked up on food. This ensured that, despite the recent floods, my family had enough to eat, allowing me to work on my bean farm with energy and peace of mind.
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access_time 3 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
We are currently live in a single-room house that is in poor condition. My dream has always been to build a better and more livable home, but financial constraints have been a major obstacle. However, with the transfers from GiveDirectly, I am now able to construct a two-room house, which will cost approximately $350. This will bring back my happiness of living in a better house. These transfers will also help me achieve my dream of raising goats. I plan to spend $200 to buy five goats, which will allow me to start this venture. This investment will help improve my family’s income.
What is the happiest part of your day?
We have been struggling to better our life and the life of our family. Despite not recovering fully from the scares of flash floods, I'm grateful that all my family members are healthy. This motivates me to work even harder. Our area has been greatly affected by the high rate of malaria infection after the horrific incident of flash floods.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Every mother strives to work hard and provide the best life possible for their family. Unfortunately, this is not the case for me. I am currently struggling to put food on the table and buy my family other basic needs such as bedding and clothes. This is embarrassing and it is slowly killing my ambition as a father. I was optimistic about having a bumper harvest last season on my one acre of land. My crops were not spared by the April flash floods. I managed to harvest one bag of maize and this was the biggest loss that I had experienced.
