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?
The moment I received transfers from Give Directly I felt so happy. I knew indeed the dream of having a dairy cow and constructing a house for my children shall come true. I was over joyed as I had never gotten such an amount before.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
For a long time, I have been willing to rear dairy cow in my compound but because of the financial difficulties, I could not afford it. I had other issues to attend to like paying school fees with the little money which I would earn from farming and casual jobs. I am so glad now because Give Directly actualized my dream because I managed to buy a lactating dairy cow. Some years back, I used to own some livestock but I had to sell them in order to clear school fees for my children. I also managed to construct a house for my children and they have a good place to sleep and to study as well. I am now a happy parent and honored because am better off than how i use to be before. And I feel this brings the difference in my life.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my first transfers on buying a cow. I bought a dairy cow because I needed one so that I would have some milk for use at home. I had sold some cattle which I had so that I would raise money for school fees for my children. Since then, we would only take black tea as I wouldn't afford to buy milk on a daily basis. I then spent the other portion on buying building materials for constructing a house for my sons. They use to walk for a long distance to seek a place to sleep and a times during rainy seasons they would be rained on while on the way. I chose to bring this to an end by constructing a good house for them. The remaining portion, I spent on buying some food for the family so that we would celebrate the gift which we got from Give Directly.
Enrolled
access_time over 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Two of my children are in secondary school. I sold all my livestock to take them through school. Receiving this money is a new beginning because I am planning to buy a dairy cow to provide my family with milk for consumption and sale of surplus. A good dairy cow will cost me around $400. I will use the remaining $150 of my first transfer to buy building materials for my sons' house.
What is the happiest part of your day?
So as to educate my children, I started poultry keeping a few months ago. I spend most part of my days in feeding and vaccinating them. This is where I get a few eggs at the end of the day which I sell and make savings for my children's education. This makes me happy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I face in my life every year is prolonged drought. During this period, vegetation dry up and water pans run out of water. This takes a great toll on farming thus food security is hampered and starvation become rife. Most women and I are forced to walk long distances looking for water for our animals and other domestic use. Most children drop out of school because their parents run out of a source of income to pay their fee. Consequently, my greatest worry is that we are going to continue languishing in a vicious cycle of poverty.
