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?
It was around 3 pm, and I was out in the field tapping coconut palm wine, the sun beating down on my back. Unexpectedly, a message popped into my phone. I checked it, and my heart leaped with joy as I saw the first transfer had been sent to my account. Overwhelmed with happiness, I almost dropped the tapping equipment, picturing how this money could transform my life. I imagined improving my living conditions, providing better for my family, and maybe even starting a small business. It was a moment of pure excitement amidst the simplicity of the palm grove, a turning point in my life that filled me with hope for the future.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Receiving monetary assistance from GiveDirectly has transformed my life in ways I couldn't have imagined. Before, using the nearby bushes for long calls was not only unhealthy but also embarrassing, especially when I had visitors. However, with the support I received, I was able to complete the construction of a pit latrine in my home. This has changed the entire atmosphere of my household. I no longer feel ashamed when guests come over, and I can confidently welcome them into a clean and hygienic environment. Moreover, having a proper toilet facility has significantly reduced the risk of disease outbreaks, ensuring the health and safety of my family. Thanks to GiveDirectly, my life has taken a positive turn, and I am now able to live with dignity and peace of mind.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
With the money I received, I prioritized the health and comfort of my family. Firstly, I allocated $150 towards completing the construction of our pit latrine. Hygiene is crucial for a healthy household, and having a proper toilet facility ensures that we can maintain cleanliness and prevent diseases. Additionally, I invested $120 in replacing the grass-thatched roof of our house with iron sheets. This upgrade has vastly improved our living conditions, especially during the rainy season when we used to endure leaks. Hiring a contractor to install the new roof cost $45, but it was a worthwhile expense for the safety and comfort of my family.
After securing these essential improvements, I used the remaining money to address other pressing needs. With a portion of it, I purchased clothes for my family, ensuring they had decent attire. The rest went towards buying food, ensuring that we had enough to sustain us without worrying about hunger. Now, as I look around our home, I feel a deep sense of contentment knowing that we have a proper pit latrine, a well-roofed house, and the necessities to live comfortably.
Enrolled
access_time 3 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
I have a family of one. I used to have a wife but she went back to her maternal home because I had not given bride price for her due to my low level of income. I do casual jobs earning very little income and sometimes go without any job for almost a month. I will use $700 to build a one room house and dig a pit latrine. I currently live in a one room house that was partially demolished by the short rains last year. I do not have latrine here at home. I will also use $400 to give brice price for my wife so that we can reunite once more. I am tired of living lonely life.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I have been struggling with food due to my low income. However, on September last year we received the short rains and planted crops on my 1/4 acre piece of land. I missed farm inputs like fertilizer and pesticide but I am happy that I got some harvest and will have maize that will sustain me for the next two months.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Source of reliable income is the challenge I am currently facing in life. I do casual jobs gives me very little income. The income is low such that I could not pay dowry price for my wife something that made her to go back to her maternal home. I do not have latrine at home and this makes me use open dification methods. I lack the capacity to build one.
