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 at home with my children when I received a message from GiveDirectly confirming that I had received $200. I was so happy because I was broke and facing many challenges. My first thought was to use the money to pay the remaining school fees so that my child, who is joining the university, can get their secondary school certificate. This certificate is a requirement when enrolling in a university.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest change since I started receiving cash transfers from GiveDirectly has been my child's education. I am proud to have a child in university, which is a huge accomplishment for our family. This was made possible by GiveDirectly’s support. I used the transfer to clear the remaining balance of my child’s secondary school fees, allowing him to get his certificate. Without it, he would have missed the opportunity to join university, and I am deeply thankful to GiveDirectly for making this dream come true.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After receiving $200 from GiveDirectly, I had already planned how to use the money to improve my life and my family's. My son was about to join university, but I hadn’t cleared his secondary school fees. This made it hard for him to get his secondary school certificate, which is needed to enroll in university. I used $100 to clear the fees, and now my son has started his first year of university, which makes me very proud.
Next, I used $50 to lease one acre of land for pea farming. The crop is almost ready for harvest, and prices are good in the market. I plan to use the money from the harvest to pay school fees and buy a cow.
I also used $50 to repair my kitchen and the floor of my house. The recent floods had left the floor muddy, and I had trouble cooking during the rainy season. Now, with my kitchen improved, I no longer worry when it rains.
As a single mother, life can be tough, but thanks to GiveDirectly, I was able to plan and meet my most urgent needs.
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access_time 4 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
I have been left behind from the news and entertainment because iam unable to buy Television for my family, iam planning to use my first cash transfers to buy Television and renovate my kitchen. I am planning to use the second and last cash transfers to pay school fees for my 2 children who will be joining university this year and my one child who is in junior secondary.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I am very grateful to God because my children are in school and they are performing well and iam also optimistic that their life will be better than mine. I am happy because I have 2 children who are university material.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am currently facing a lot of challenges in my family. I have 2 children who are joining university this year, one in junior secondary and they all depend on me to provide them with school fees and Iam not financially stable, because iam just running a small grocery stand in my compound which is not stable enough because a lot all the compounds in the village have their vegetable garden. I am working a gain as a caretaker, I have a disabled child who depends on me to move him around and my father is elderly he needs my continuous support because his health is decorating each and everyday.
