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?
At 6 am, I woke up and casually checked my phone, only to see a message that I had received money from GiveDirectly. I felt a rush of happiness and couldn’t keep it to myself immediately woke up my wife to share the good news. "Look," I told her, "we’ve received the money!" She checked the message herself, and we both felt such relief and excitement. The first thought that came to mind was finally buying goats. Buying milk every day had become a real strain, both financially and physically, and I knew having goats would help us save money and ease that burden. We were grateful, knowing this transfer would bring such a big difference to our daily life.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest change in my life after receiving the transfer is that I now have goats that give us milk, something I never imagined owning. Before, I depended only on casual jobs, which barely covered our food, let alone allowed me to save or invest in anything long-term. The idea of buying livestock felt impossible because we were always focused on just getting by. But now, thanks to the money from GiveDirectly, I have these goats, which give us a steady supply of milk and help reduce our expenses. This small investment feels like a step toward a more secure future. Having goats also gives me hope that I can continue building a better life for my family, something I didn’t think was possible before.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received the cash transfer, it felt like a miracle for my family. I had been carrying so many worries, wondering how to provide for my children and keep us afloat. The first thing I did was use $140 to buy two goats. I hoped they would give us a steady supply of milk, which would improve our meals and save us from the high cost of buying milk. Having our own goats felt like a step toward a brighter future, something I could rely on to care for my family. I also used $20 to pay off a hospital debt that had been weighing me down. My children and I had been sick recently, and the medical bills added up faster than I could manage. Finally clearing that debt gave me a huge sense of relief, knowing I could focus on the present without that burden hanging over us. With the remaining money, I bought food for my family and paid for solar light, which has been a big help since we don’t have electricity in our area. My husband and I rely on casual jobs to provide food, but it has always been difficult to make sure we have enough. With this cash transfer, it felt like a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders. Now I can give my children better meals and a more secure future, and this peace of mind is truly priceless. I am deeply grateful for this support; it has brought hope and stability into our lives.
Enrolled
access_time 4 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
Having financial support has been my dream. Since the day we sold our last goat, life has not been easy for us. Receiving these cash transfers will allow us to buy livestock, which will help us in difficult situations such as hunger, emergencies, and the need for farming inputs. By selling one or two animals when needed, we can support ourselves and this will greatly benefit my family. Additionally, I do not have a stable house for my family. My next project is to construct a house with iron sheets, as our current mud wall house is very risky in a flooding area. I also plan to invest the remaining money into farming to secure my family from drought.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Despite the financial challenges and lack of a stable source of income, I am so happy to have an understanding and supportive family by my side. This is what makes my life more pleasant every day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest challenge I am facing is financial constraints. I have been relying on charcoal burning and casual labor to meet my family's basic needs because I have been unable to find a more stable source of income. In my area, casual labor is scarce during the rainy season as flooding makes it difficult to work. Sometimes, we go an entire week without any work, which means my family often goes without food.