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?
While my phone was charging in my sister-in-law's house while not switched off, a message popped in and non of us noticed. At around 11 am when she was confirming whether it was fully charged so that she could unplug it to charge another phone, she saw a message icon on the screen. Since she is also my helper, she did not hesitate to check what kind of message it was. Alas! It was the first transfer of $550 from GiveDirectly. She hurriedly came to me with the gospel. Hearing that, I had mixed reactions, I was dump-founded not knowing whether to ululate, laugh or cry with happiness. This was because my heart melted in happiness and thanksgiving for getting a huge amount of money at once knowing that some challenging situations were going to get solutions.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Initially, my living condition was pathetic. Getting some food was a big challenge. I had to look for casual labor, make charcoals and fetch some firewood for sale; it was tiresome. Currently, I took a break from these kinds of work and I get enough food unlike before because of the transfer I got from GiveDirectly. In addition to that, I used to stay in an odor house since I lived in the same house with my goats and chicken. The smell was unbearable though I had to. As of now, I am very happy living like other human beings because GiveDirectly enabled me and I now have a decent separate house which I constructed using the transfer. I give my gratitude to GiveDirectly for seeing me through this situation.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon getting the first transfer, I opted to construct a nice spacious house. I opted for this because the house I used to dwell in was very small, congested, and not worthy of staying a human being. Despite being small and congested to accommodate my family, it was the same house where my chicken and goats used to spend their nights. The odor was unbearable but since I had no alternative, I had to stay put. Therefore, I bought 26 pieces of iron sheets for $247. I also bought building poles, rafters, and roofing timbers for $180 and the contractor's labor charge was $80. As of now, I am very happy because I have a spacious mud-walled house of two rooms. Thereafter, I opted to use the remaining amount for food because hunger was another big challenge that I was passing through due to the drought which has persisted in our area.
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access_time 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am a widow living alone and caring for myself. I am keeping a few goats for my daughter. I have seen the benefit of keeping goats as an asset because incase you have a problem, you can sell one of them and solve it. I have known the importance of keeping livestock and I have been dreaming to have mine in life. My house also is very small with mud walls! I have also been thinking of a way out to have a spacious house. I also have a food Crisis in my house. I depend entirely on charcoal burning business which doesn't give me much earnings. I am growing old and my body doesn't allow me to do such straneous jobs but because of the situations of living alone and depending on my own, I have no otherwise. I always think of the problems I have and finally thought to prioritize the idea of having a spacious house and own goats. Receiving this transfers means I will accomplish my dream of having a spacious house. I will rebuild my hut and have a two bedroom house and use the second transfer to buy goats to keep for myself.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My son inlaw brought me new clothes and food during the new year celebration. He came with his wife and we celebrated the new year together. He slaughtered a goat and we all enjoyed the new year festival in my house.. He praised me for keeping his wife's goats and what brought joy and happiness to me is that he gave me some money, food and new clothes as a present to his mother inlaw.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My hut is very small- Its a single room which I use it as a bedroom, sitting room, kitchen and as a store. My house isn't amusing at all. I don't have food to eat. I have to look for money and buy food every day and if I dont get cash, then I have to go to bed hangry. I rely on charcoal burning business which has obstacles! Its not easy to get a customer for the charcoal, it takes time before the charcoal are ready for sale, and also its a straneous activity which needs alot of energy and am growing old. My body is degenerating. The greatest challenge I am facing in my house is an alternative way of getting revenues to cater for my daily expenses.
