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.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Build house
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Free money without suffering
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Zinc, plank, nail
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
42500 LRD ($276 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Yes, my new plan is to construct my house with zince. Over the years I have been living in a tartch house, but since I have started receiving money from Givedirectly I am thinking on building my new house.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Givedirectly is good at keeping her promise. She promised to send us money and we are getting it. On the other hand, I haven't yet find out what Givedirectly don't do well. I dont know if I will ever find what they are not good at because I see everything good.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have purchased few planks and nails to start my house project.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
40375 LRD ($266 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I went to fetch water with my water pan from the village creek, a normal chore for me before going to the farm daily. After few rounds to and fro, I was making this particular round when I heard my phone ring from the place in my wraparound cloth where I had tied it. When I checked, it wasn't any ordinary sms as I thought but my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I shouted in astonishment and threw the pan of water off my head, flung my slippers away and ran towards the town with shouting. My husband recognizing my voice ran towards me curious what had happened but when he realized that it was excitement from the cash transfer I had received, he joined me as we sang joyfully in our native tongue. The feeling was so unreal. Joy filled my heart and my home, I felt happier than I had ever felt before.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
GiveDirectly transfer has made me a boss. From a peasant farmer to an employer, isn't that a miracle? Of course it is. I still run my farm but now hiring labourers to do the job for me while I supervise. My family on the other hand is at peace more than ever before because my husband now holds me like a tender egg because definitely I'm the principal recipient. My life has changed from nothing to something. I'm grateful to GiveDirectly for this. Today I have a phone for the first time in my life with which I can communicate with my family and friends far away. That is a massive change for a peasant, what more could I ask for? I'm grateful.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I intend to build a new and better house with my transfers and invest in my farm with more seeds and workers. In fulfilment of this dream, I now have people working for me on my farm and increasing productivity and I have also purchased some essential building materials, awaiting the next transfer to kick start my project. When completed, it will be my first time to personally own a house. I am excited knowing that I will very soon build a zinc roof house, something never before done in my family.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
What I will do with my cash transfer is that, I will buy my land and build my zinc house immediately, reason being, where I am currently is not really decent, and I am tire living in such bad condition, as such, I feel that buying land and building myself a zinc house will be better then living in this old mud house.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In the last six months, what brought me happiness was, my mate went for visit in Ivory Coast in the month of August and bought me some new clothes, it really brought me joy; before then I was really in tears due to the sudden death of my father, but what she did brought some set of relief, and I was happy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Those challenges I'm currently facing are, the issue of making farm every year, farming work is very hard, as such, it makes you look bad-off in appearance like an older person, so I really want to put cutlass down and start a small business, but no cash to do such. My next challenge has to do with the issue of buying land and building my house; the little money that we generate from our farming work isn't enough to feed the home, support the children in school, and start up a building project.
