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.
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2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
297300 MWK ($372 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Life would have been different had I not received the transfers. I would not have managed to buy food for my family that we would have died of hunger as I only harvested 2 bags of maize which would have not been enough to feed my family of 4 members. I also managed to buy clothes for my family that now they go to school happily. Life has been easy since I received the transfers as I can afford to give my family everything they need. I also managed to start a business of selling fish, chicken and pieces of cloth which has made it easy to support my family with basic need. Before receiving the transfers, I used to go a distance of 5 km to look for a piece work in order to find money food. All that is a thing of the past as I am no longer poor after receiving the transfers.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly do well by giving the money directly to the beneficiaries. Unlike other social cash transfers, the chiefs are given the mandate to chose people to receive the transfers and in the end some people are left out when they were supposed to get the transfers. When the chiefs are in control of social cash transfer projects, they ask for bribes so that people should receive the things. In 2018, I was told to give a goat to the chief so that I should be part of the farm input program introduced by the Malawi government. I gave him the goat and the following morning my name appeared on the list of people to buy fertilize. This is not the case with the money from GiveDirectly as it comes straight to us as beneficiaries. In my opinion, everything done by GiveDirectly is done well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have not yet withdrawn my second transfers as I was afraid of thief's to take advantage of my house which is not well secured and steal the money. Once I get the transfers, I want to buy fertilizer for this year's farming season. I also want to buy house furniture such as chairs and a table and this is what my heart want for now. I will keep some money safe until I find something to buy worthy benefiting my family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
307200 MWK ($386 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was so happy and grateful.i felt like I have been given a new hope,,to have better things and to improve my living standards...I'm forever grateful for the program
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference is that we now have enough food for the entire household...We now manage to purchase healthy and nutritious foods and we have better beddings and clothes
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
She used the cash to purchase food for her household,,some clothes and beddings and she saved some of the money which she will use for brick making.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money really means so much to me,I'm very happy for getting enrolled in the programme,my heart is full of joy but i will be more excited when i receive the first transfer.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is during afternoon because thats when i chat with most of my friends and family so this always makes me happy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Apparently the biggest hardship I'm facing is lack of a secured shelter,as you can see i live in a glass fatched house and during rainy season we soak in water because it leaks too much,in additional i struggle to find food for my family,I'm a farmer by occupation but lack of necessary farm inputs always result inadequate farm products and this makes my home to suffer with hunger yearly.
