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 5pm in the evening, and I was out preparing a small piece of land to plant cassava when my phone buzzed with a message.I checked it and saw it was a notification of the unconditional cash transfer from GiveDirectly and I could hardly believe my eyes. I rushed home to share the incredible news with my husband, and his excitement matched mine. We immediately started discussing our plans, and the first thing that came to mind was building a new house. Our current one was falling apart due to the heavy rains, and this transfer felt like a miracle, offering us a chance to create a safer and more comfortable home.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
My daughters were at home, having been sent back from school because I couldn't afford the fees. It was a heart-wrenching situation, and I felt helpless. But with the transfers, everything changed almost overnight. I was able to pay their school fees and send them back to continue their education. Right now, they do not have to worry about where their school fees is going to come from since I have completed for the term and they can now concentrate on their studies. In the past they were in and out of school and thy could miss a lot which affected their grades. Education has always been a big priority for me and I want my daughters to go through school and have the opportunities I never had. With a good education, they can secure a better future for themselves and, hopefully, support me when I grow older. The transfers have not only provided immediate relief but have also given us hope for a brighter future.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
With the tranfer, I was able to buy 26 iron sheets and posts, spending $390 to build a new house. The old house I lived in was falling apart on one side because of its very old roof, and whenever I left the house and it rained, my clothes and seats would be ruined leading to a lot of discomfort. In addition to constructing a new house, I was able to pay the school fees for my three daughters in primary school, which cost about $80. Ensuring that my daughters can continue their education without interruption is very important to me, and this financial relief has made a significant difference in our lives. With the remainder of the cash transfer, I bought essential food items. This has alleviated some of the day-to-day struggles we faced, ensuring that my family has enough to eat. Overall, the cash transfer has had a huge impact on our quality of life, providing us with stability and hope for the future.
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access_time 5 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
The main plan I have at the moment is to ensure I change my social status to the better. This will be possible by making sure I have a decent house, a long-term project as well as having the ability to support my children in school. I, therefore, plan to spend $400 to repair the roof of my house as well as fixing a nice door. This will give me peace of mind since the current house is leaking during rainy season. I also plan to buy 7 goats which will cost me $300 of my transfers. This will be my reliable source of income to support my family in the future. The remaining amount will help me to sort other needs such as school fees for my 3 children who are in primary school and in addition, I will buy new beddings to replace the old ones that never give us nice sleep. Thus, this is basically what receiving this money means to me.
What is the happiest part of your day?
With the rains we received last year between October and December 2023, we were able to plant maize in our farms which was not the case before then due to prolonged drought. The harvest I got from the farm was two 90 kilogram bags of maize. Although the food can only sustain us for at least 3 months, It has brought a great sigh of relief to me. Hence, I consider the food I have in my household as my source of joy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Financial instability is what I consider to be my biggest challenge. This is because, being a housewife means depending on my husband who is a casual laborer within the village. His work involves roofing and since he operates within the community, he finds it rough to get reliable customers on a daily basis. As a family, we have suffered food insecurity, poor housing and limited access to education for my children. What a life to worry about!
