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.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After receiving $180 from GiveDirectly, I immediately thought about buying a plot of land. I live near a river and was severely affected by recent floods that caused a lot of destruction, especially to homesteads that were swept away. I knew right away that if I didn’t permanently mitigate this threat, I would risk continued losses and disturbances from floods in the future.
With this in mind, I spent $100 as a deposit to secure a plot in a safer area. I also spent $55 to buy a sheep as a long-term investment. My vision is for the sheep to multiply so I can use it to meet my family’s emergencies in the future.
Additionally, I spent $13 on medication for both me and my kids. The floods had caused my children to suffer from common colds and malaria, but with GiveDirectly’s assistance, I was able to address these health issues immediately.
I used the remaining money to buy food. During the floods, it was extremely hard to find any work, and the best option was to seek refuge in a camp. Thanks to GiveDirectly, I could address these urgent needs and ensure my family's well-being.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life since I started receiving transfers from GiveDirectly is that I can finally own a plot in a safer place, away from the threat of floods. This means I will permanently mitigate this threat. Without GiveDirectly, this would have remained just a dream, but now it is a reality.
I have just paid $100 as a deposit and plan to pay the remaining $600 in installments. I am grateful for this timely support from GiveDirectly.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was at home taking a shower when my phone rang. I rushed out of the shower and immediately called back. It was my neighbor on the line. We were both in the last batch awaiting transfers from GiveDirectly in our village. He told me he had received his money and was full of joy.
I ended the call to check if I had also received my transfer. Sure enough, I received a message confirming that $180 had been deposited into my account from GiveDirectly. I was overjoyed because I knew how much this money meant to me.
I was in the middle of a crisis caused by floods, which made finding job opportunities impossible. My immediate thought was to solve this issue permanently. I decided to use the money to find a better place to live, away from the threat of floods, so my family and I could live happily and without fear of floods again.
Enrolled
access_time 3 months ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Living in a region sorrounded by two rivers presents a formidable challenge, especially during the rainy season when floods become a regular occurrence. My biggest worry is the lack of financial means to move my family to a safer location during these moments of danger. Each flood incident escalates my concern for the safety of my loved ones, heightened further by the looming threat of waterborne illnesses that frequently accompany such crises. Moreover, the loss of my goat and two kids adds to the distress. Finding a resolution to this persistent predicament is crucial to securing the welfare of my family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The past six months have been marked by a bittersweet experience in our village, as our joy from a successful maize harvest quickly turned to despair due to flooding. My wife and I were elated with the abundant yield from our one and a half acre farm, envisioning stored maize to sustain us through dry seasons. Sadly, the floods swept away our entire harvest, leaving us with no choice but to seek casual labor and resort to charcoal burning to support our family. Despite this setback, I hold onto hope for a better future where we can relocate to a safer environment, shielding us from such devastating floods.
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
Receiving this money is a game-changer for us. It means finally being able to relocate my family to a safer area. The recent floods in our village were a wake-up call, especially seeing my son battle pneumonia as a result. With the shifting weather patterns, it's clear that our current location is no longer safe. My plan is to use the transfers to buy land in a higher area and move our home there. I'm optimistic that this move will bring an end to the worries and sleepless nights that come with living in a flood-prone area.
