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 remember that morning so clearly – it was around 6 a.m. when my brother called, asking me to go to the farm to help with the tomato harvest. Still half-asleep, I grabbed my phone and noticed a new message. I opened it and, to my disbelief, it was a notification showing that I had received money from GiveDirectly! I was so happy I could barely contain my excitement. Immediately, my thoughts raced to all the possibilities, and the first thing that came to mind was buying goats, which I'd been planning for a while.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
When the floods came, they swept away everything we had on the farm. I had planted an acre of maize, and I was counting on it, but all of it was lost. I couldn’t harvest a single thing, and because farming is what I depend on, it left me with nothing. But when GiveDirectly provided us with cash transfers, things changed. We finally had something to eat for a while, which lifted a huge weight off my shoulders. I felt so much less stressed during that period, knowing I could provide for my family and wouldn’t have to struggle to find food every day.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I had always wanted to own a sheep—something I could call mine and that would be a lasting memory of this support. With $90, I bought two sheep, both as an investment for my family and as a reminder of the kindness shown to us by GiveDirectly. Education has always been a priority for me, but keeping my three children in primary school was becoming a challenge due to rising costs. I used $50 from the cash transfer to pay their school fees, making sure they wouldn’t be sent home and could focus on their studies. Seeing them stay in school, knowing they’re getting the education they deserve, brings me peace of mind. With $26, I bought half a bag of maize to help us through the shortage, and I used the remaining amount to buy basic household food items that would last us for the next two weeks. This ensured that my family had enough to eat, allowing us to focus on other pressing needs without the constant worry about our next meal.
Enrolled
access_time 5 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
I had planted an acre of maize but unfortunately it was swept away by floods. The transfers have come at the time I needed most, I will use the money to purchase fertilizer and tomato seedlings. This will earn me more money for my daily use and investments. The rest of the transfers will go into paying school fees for my children and purchasing household goods like mattress and beddings.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Prayer is what has kept me strong despite the challenges that I go through. When I wake up in the morning,I always thank God for his protection and good health. Hence waking up in the morning is something I do not take for granted.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
As a result of heavy rains, there has been a Malaria break out and my children have been on and off the hospital. I have spent a month taking care of them without doing any work to earn money. I therefore depend on my brother to get money for food and other neccessities hoping my children will recover soon.
