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 went out to carry some water from a distant source in the afternoon, leaving my phone at home to charge. When I returned and took a break, I noticed a notification on my phone. Unfortunately, I couldn't read the messages, so I called my helper for assistance. After checking, my helper confirmed that I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I was so filled with joy and relief, knowing that I could now pay my son's fees. This was especially important as my children had been sent home from school due to my inability to pay their fees on time.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I am extremely grateful to GiveDirectly for the invaluable financial support they provided. Their assistance has been instrumental in ensuring that my children are able to continue their education without any hindrances. To support my children's education, I used to work in a quarry, although the income was not substantial, it allowed me to make partial payments towards their school fees. Unfortunately, the quarry was closed down, leaving me unemployed and unable to meet the financial obligations of my children's education. This led to accumulating hefty fee arrears, causing my two sons to be frequently sent home from school. It was especially distressing as they are in their final year of high school, and I couldn't bear to see them miss classes while their classmates progressed. However, upon receiving the support from GiveDirectly, I was able to settle the entire outstanding fee balance for the remainder of the year. This has relieved me from the constant worry of fee-related interruptions and has allowed my sons to focus on their studies and adequately prepare for their final exams. Despite my current unemployment, I am deeply grateful that my children can pursue their education uninterrupted.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Receiving the transfer was a huge relief for me because it came at a time when my children had been sent home from school due to unpaid fees. I had been consistently paying for their fees over the years while working in a quarry. Although the pay was not much, it ensured that all my children were enrolled in school. However, the quarry was closed down, leaving me jobless. As a result, I found myself unable to pay the fees on time, and my children were sent home. I am grateful that with my first transfer, I was able to pay off the outstanding fee arrears for the remaining part of the year, totaling $230. I am happy that my children will be able to complete their high school education without any interruptions due to fees. In addition, I spent $130 on buying a new mattress and a bed, replacing the old worn-out bedding that was no longer comfortable to sleep on. I also purchased a new metal door for $80 and fixed it in my house since the previous one was broken and did not provide enough security for me and my household items. I used the remaining amount to cover my physically disabled daughter's medical expenses, purchase clothing for her, and buy foodstuffs for my family.
Enrolled
access_time 6 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
I have a family of seven members with five being children. I do casual jobs making approximately $ 30 per month which caters for school fees for the children and food. The husband got into an accident ten years ago and sustained permanent disability . I have all the family responsibilities. All the children are in secondary school and raising their school fees is really a challenge. Last year they got a bursary worth $ 300 and cleared their balances. This year they have to pay $1500 for the whole year as school fees. I will use $500 to pay school fees and try to seek help from other stakeholders so as to clear the remaining amount. I will also use $ 600 to buy ten goats as an investment. This will bring sustainable income once they multiply and sell milk out of them.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My village has been under drought for the past three years. However in the past two seasons we have had enough rainfall in the village. I planted maize in the past season and harvested eight bags of maize each 90 kg. This season the maize is also doing well and I intend to get a good harvest at the end of the season. The harvest brings happiness in my life.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of reliable sources of income is the challenge I am currently facing in life. My husband has a permanent disability and he cannot work anymore. I do a casual job making approximately $30 per month which caters for food and school fees for my children. The income is low such that I cannot pay the required school fees on time thus making the children miss classes for some time.