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?
After a tiring day weeding my maize and vegetables on the farm, I received a message from GiveDirectly while relaxing at home. Overwhelmed with joy, I immediately called my husband, who was working on a pineapple farm far away. Excitedly, I informed him of the arrival of the money, and we planned to reunite in a week to start budgeting.With seven kids, five of whom are school-goers, the leaking roof of our current house posed a problem during rainy days, damaging their books. The first thing that crossed my mind was using the funds to build a new, comfortable home for my children.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Previously, I struggled with poor sleep due to challenging conditions. Currently, I find relief sleeping on the ground, planning to buy a bed and mattress with the next GiveDirectly transfer. Despite the basic setup, my children are content with dry books and comfortable sleep, bringing joy to our family in our improved home.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Facing a leaking and nearly collapsing house, I wisely invested $420 from GiveDirectly to build a two-roomed shelter, ensuring my family's safety and comfort during rainy days. With my husband covering most expenses, including our children's education, I allocated $70 for school fees, addressing overdue payments.To alleviate the financial strain on my husband, who works on a limited income, I spent $60 on purchasing food essentials. The support from GiveDirectly played a crucial role in securing our basic needs, and we express our heartfelt gratitude for the assistance provided.
Enrolled
access_time 11 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
I have a family of eight members with six being children and all live in a two room house with a grass roof. The roof was once blown away by strong winds and made my family suffer from winds and rains. I borrowed rusted iron sheets from neighbors to renovate it but the situation is still not good. My husband does casual jobs making approximately $60 per month which caters for food and school fees only. I lack the capacity to build a spacious house for the family. I will use $700 to build a two room house with iron sheets roof . I will also use $200 to pay school fees balances for my children and also make a prepayment.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I do subsistence farming as my job however, the community has been under drought for the past four years. This has caused famine in the community . In June this year we received rain and planted maize on my one acre piece of land and harvested four bags of maize each 90kg. The maize sustained the family for almost three months. The harvest brought happiness in my life.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Housing is the challenge I am currently facing in life. I am living in a two room house with a grass roof that was blown away by strong winds some months ago. I borrowed rusted iron sheets from neighbors so as to cover the roof but the house still leaks heavily during rain season. Mostly when it rains during night hours I spend sleepless night. This has affected my children healthy.
