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?
Waking up in the morning, I felt a spark of excitement as I checked my phone and confirmed that I had received the money. It was like a cow had just given birth—full of joy and promise! I quickly called my wife to share the good news, and she responded with enthusiasm. She immediately suggested that we should buy iron sheets since we had been living in a house that was not suitable for our family. Her words made me realize how this money could truly change our living conditions. I felt grateful to GiveDirectly for this opportunity to improve our lives.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life after receiving the transfer is that we now have enough food at home. Before, I often had to go out looking for casual jobs just to feed my family, and there were times when I couldn't find work, leaving us hungry. It was stressful not knowing where our next meal would come from. However, now that we have food, I can relax at home with my family. This change allows us to focus on other important things, like my children's education and health. I feel a sense of relief and hope knowing that we are no longer struggling with hunger. This support has truly transformed our lives for the better.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The day I received the cash transfer felt like a turning point for my family. I used $50 as a down payment on a plot of land because my current home is prone to flooding. I couldn't continue living in a place that put my family at risk, so relocating was necessary. Furthermore, I spent $70 on materials to start building a new house. The roof of our current home leaks whenever it rains, and the rusted iron sheets are not providing any protection. Although the new house is not yet complete, I plan to finish it with my next transfer.With the remaining money, I focused on buying food for my family. Depending on casual jobs for our meals has been a constant struggle, especially with four children to care for. My wife also works as a casual laborer, but our earnings are often not enough. Therefore, this cash transfer allowed us to stock up on essential food items, which relieved some of the pressure we felt daily. It was a huge relief to know that we could eat properly for a while. Overall, this support from GiveDirectly has brought hope into our lives. I can see a future where my family is safe and well-fed, away from the threats of flooding and hunger. I am truly grateful for this opportunity, as it is helping us take steps toward a better life.
Enrolled
access_time 4 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
Our house is in a bad state, the floods damaged it. The transfer has come at an opportune time, I'm really thankful to Givedirectly. I will spend the first transfer of $200 to repair my house and buy food to sustain my family during this difficult period.
Since I'm a farmer, I plan to invest in farming. I can plant maize for sale in an acre of land. It will cost approximately $400 to do this. The income from the farm will help me support my children's education and also meet other household needs.
Additionally, we need to also add more income through sheep farming. They breed faster and are easy to manage here. There's enough grass and readily available markets. Plan to invest about $300 to buy four sheep.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I hired half an acre of land to plant maize recently. They are almost reaching the harvesting stage. We hope that in the next two months we'll have enough food to feed my family. It makes me happy seeing the maize grow well, and the floods rarely reach there. I'm confident of harvesting the maize to feed my family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Floods have been persistent over the past four months, we have been displaced. During this period we've been forced to ask for hosting by neighbors from safer villages. Additionally, we also lost some of our household items such as utensils, beddings and ten chickens as a result. It has really made our lives hard and feeding our family is an uphill task. We depend on aid which hardly covers our needs and getting casual jobs or burning charcoal is difficult during the flood season.
