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 vividly remember the day I was at home, busy with house chores, when my phone suddenly rang. I checked and saw a message confirming I had received money from GiveDirectly. It was one of the happiest moments of my life. I was overwhelmed with joy and gratitude, knowing that this transfer would finally allow me to start working toward my long-held dream of expanding my farming business. The arrival of the funds filled me with excitement and hope for the future, and I am deeply grateful for this life-changing support.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest change in my life since I started receiving money from GiveDirectly is how much it has improved things for me. I have been able to invest more in my farming, which is my main source of income. One of the biggest achievements was being able to afford an irrigation system, something that felt out of reach before. With this system, I can now pump water from the lake, which has made a huge difference in my farming activities. My crops are healthier, and I no longer have to rely on unpredictable rainfall. This support has made my life easier, and I am very grateful.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a single man who relies on farming to make a living, mainly growing maize and other crops. When I received my recent transfer, I knew I had to invest it in my farm because it’s my primary source of income. I used $10 to improve my irrigation system by connecting water from the lake. This was something I had wanted to do for a long time but couldn’t afford due to financial challenges. I am so grateful that the organization stepped in and made it possible for me to finally improve my farm. With the remaining funds, I bought food supplies. Since it was the dry season and food was scarce, I needed to stock up on essentials. I am incredibly happy with the support I have received, as it has had a great impact on my life. It has not only boosted my farming but also ensured I have enough food for the difficult season.
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access_time 3 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
My ambition to be a full time farmer shall come to pass up on receiving these transfers. I desire to invest more in maize farming because the proceeds are good. I plan to purchase a generator for pumping water to irrigate my farm as currently rely on my neighbors for it at a fee. I will also be able to expand my acreage from one and increase the profits I get from farming. I am happy because the transfers will boost me and change my life for the better.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I am happy because I have been in good health and I do not take it for granted. This enables me to go about my daily chores comfortably and fend for myself. I pray that I never get sick since there is no one else I can depend on.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of capital to start up a business or farming has been a challenge. I rely on farming to make ends meet but two months ago I lost an acre of maize to floods. This made me incur a loss of 200$ that I have not been able to recover till now. I currently do charcoal burning and casual jobs to get money so as to meet my basic needs.
