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 heard the message at around 6am which I rushed to check since I was already awake. I was very excited when I confirmed that it was the money I had been waiting for. I could not stay in bed any longer as I needed to prepare breakfast and leave for the nearest town as soon as possible to withdraw the money before the rest of the village members did.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
My family is now living in a spacious house with a lot more room for easy movement and privacy. Having built this new house away from the wetlands has also improved the general condition of our lives because we don't have to worry about any diseases or infections caused by living in wet and damp conditions. Despite not having any harvest in the recent months due to unfavourable weather conditions, my family has food security which the transfer made possible. We also have new clothes that has improved our general appearances especially in public.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent most of the transfer to construct a new house because the previous one we had was very small therefore not able comfortably house my family. The house was also constructed on a wetland so it was mostly wet and cold especially during the rainy season. I was able to construct a much larger family house and a separate kitchen where my children can also sleep. I spent the little money I had left on foodstuff and clothing for the entire family.
Enrolled
access_time almost 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
We have been aspiring to build a new house since water oozes from the one we are living in. We are planning to spend approximately 400 USD from the first transfer we get from Give Directly to build a better house in a better place (not swampy). Receiving this money mean will be able to build a better house in a better place.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening. My normal day starts early in the morning by going to weed and dig in our land and the one that belongs to our family members. We do this communally and thus makes our work lighter. We normally work up to late in the evening with a lunch break in between. Evening is therefore, my free time I have with my family as we chat as we take supper.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Due to change of weather, we have been unable to harvest enough maize in our region. Since we are peasant farmers, we rely on maize to fend for our family. We have 0.5 acre of land which we have planted maize hoping to get good harvest (of around 3 bags of maize) this year. Change of weather has been the greatest hardship we have faced in life.
