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.
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Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
354200 MWK ($346 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I felt so grateful because all my life I have never had such a huge sum of money and I feel the money cane at a time when I needed it the most.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that In the past around these months, I was unable to provide for my family and I could travel long distances to find piece works just so I could be able to provide food for my family..But now with the cash transfer, I am able to spend quality time with my wife and kids as well as gave enough food such that there are no longer disagreements in the house.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used my most recent transfer to purchase clothes, shoes for my wife and my 6 children..I gave my wife an approximate amount of $40 which she used in buying the clothes for the children as well as school uniform.
Since I have a piece of land for farming, I decided to buy 2 bags of fertilizer..1 bag of fertilizer was bought at a price of about $67 in a neighbouring market..I then used about $8 to transport the fertilizer from the market to my village.
Lastly, I bought 5 bags of maize at a price of $21 per bag..I bought food since I literally had no food in my house and thanks to Givedirectly that I managed to take care of my family.
Enrolled
access_time over 1 year ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
This money will be used to buy at least 4 bags of fertilizer so that I have good harvest of about 25 with good rains. Therefore I will be food sufficient next year. Some of the money will also be used for other basic needs like soap and clothes.
What is the happiest part of your day?
There was a day I sold 20 baskets and I made K16000 ($15.8). I was very happy this day because I used that money to buy clothes for my family. They were happy to receive the new clothes.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My biggest challenge is lack of money to buy clothes and food. This is because our source of income is sort of illegal. We collect bamboo from protected areas (Thuma Forest) so we run from the game rangers and elephants as well. So we go there and come back empty handed at times. That means no material to make baskets with hence no money and food.
