How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
We live near the river, and this year we experienced severe floods. It was a terrifying night, and by luck, we were not swept away by the rising waters. The water nearly covered us, and the most frightening part was the danger to our 5-year-old daughter. We could not escape because it happened at night, and the water levels were so high inside our house that we had to stand on the bed, holding our daughter above the water for hours, waiting for the levels to recede. That life-threatening experience made me determined to make a change. I plan to focus on crop farming, specifically planting seed maize, and I will use the proceeds to finish paying for a plot on higher ground that we secured on debt. Once we own the plot, we will construct a house there, ensuring our family’s safety from future floods.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly excels at supporting the needy through unconditional cash transfers, and their response to the floods in our community this year was truly thoughtful. We lost almost everything, and honestly, their support has transformed our lives. One of the standout aspects of their approach is the fair and inclusive enrollment process, free from discrimination, ensuring that everyone in need was given the opportunity to benefit. Additionally, their follow-up on the transfers is a commendable practice, as it encourages wise spending and has led to positive outcomes for many. As they continue to support more communities, I suggest they maintain this approach. I don’t have any areas for improvement to recommend.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My house is small, just one room with limited space, and it’s not enough to accommodate visitors comfortably. When I received my first cash transfer, I decided to use $135 to buy 10 iron sheets, planning to use part of my final transfer to purchase the remaining materials and build a bigger house. We only had four plastic chairs, which were not very durable, so I bought a three seater sofa set for $55 to improve our seating situation. At night, we didn’t have enough lighting, so I paid a deposit of $35 for a solar panel, with a daily subscription of $7 to keep it running. I also bought a sound speaker for $80 to entertain us at home and help us to tune in to radio stations for news, as we did not have a television or a radio. Since we lost our crops to floods this year and rely on casual jobs, food has not been easy to come by, as casual work is unreliable. I spent $30 on a bag of maize and $22 on other essentials like sugar, which saved us the stress of worrying about our next meal. My daughter in elementary school had $40 in arrears for school fees, which I was able to clear with the transfer to prevent further accumulation. Lastly, because most of our clothes were destroyed by the flood, surviving with just a few worn pairs was not ideal. I used $60 to buy new clothes for my husband, daughter, and myself, restoring a bit of normalcy after the disaster. Thank you, GiveDirectly, for the support.