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 was on my way from the nearby water pan where I had gone to fetch water for my family when I heard my phone message notification. Being illiterate, I couldn't understand the message, I called for my son whom confirmed that it the transfer that I had eagerly waiting. I was overwhelmed with joy since I had never received such a huge amount in my life.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life is that, I was able to improve my livestock rearing. Previously, I had some animals but I sold most of them to educate my children who is in secondary school. I purchased 2 cows at 150 each this is my longterm investment for the family which will help is when we encounter any financial emergency.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent $200 to educate my child who is in secondary school by paying the huge fee balance for my child. Also, I bought two dairy cows at 150 this is my future investment which will assist me in educating me child. I used the remaining amount to purchase enough foodstuffs for my family.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have long wished to have a decent house for my family because the one I currently have is very small and can not accommodate us. Despite all the struggle to construct a better one, our efforts always bore no fruits since we lack the iron sheets and this means collapsing of the superstructure. Since GiveDirectly has reached our household, I am now confident of constructing a spacious house, and to ensure this materialize, I intend to spend the entire first transfer ($550) on the house. With the second transfer, I intend to start livestock keeping to have a long-term project for my family, and therefore, I will spend $300 to buy 10 goats. The remaining amount will help me to cater to the very basic needs of my family. Hence, this is generally what receiving this money means to me.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I consider the evening being the happiest part of my day. This is because I usually get ample time to rest and also have a moment to talk and share a meal with my children. Unlike in the morning and afternoon hours when I am always busy at the bush doing my charcoal job, and at this time, I always miss my children.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Imagine raising my 7 children with charcoal burning being the only source of income, it has been a very hard moment for me. Because trees are not in plenty, it takes me like 1 month to make 10 sacks of charcoal that I sell at $6 each. The period between preparing the charcoal to the time of selling means getting help from a friend and when I receive my money, I will have to pay back the debts, leaving me with very little for the family. Hence, the lack of a stable source of income becomes my biggest hardship.
