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 felt very happy after learning that I had received the transfer that would change my life for the better. This is because my dream of construct a permanent house was about to be fulfilled. I remember vividly it was around 9 am when I was in my house relaxing while taking breakfast after completing the morning chores.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Living is a decent permanent house with my family is the biggest difference in my life. I have been desiring to own one but I lack the finances to purchase the building materials. I will no longer need to repair the house which is costly after completing the construction of a permanent one.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfer to improve the condition of my house by purchasing 12 bags of cement at $70 dollars each, sand, building stones and paid labour charges for $140. My plan is to build permanent one, this is because my house was collapsing due to the mud walls which was constantly brought down by rains. Furthermore, it requires frequent maintenance every year which is relatively expensive. In addition, I purchased 4 bundles of maize flour for $50 because we did not have enough food for the family. I also educated my grandchildren by paying their school fees.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means renovating my house. It has been in bad shape for quite a long time and I'm afraid it might collapse leaving me homeless. I will use part of the transfer to purchase building materials that will be used to construct a concrete foundation and pillars to strengthen the walls. I will also purchase a cow that will earn me income from it's produce. These transfers will greatly improve my life.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the afternoon. This is when I am taking lunch with my family and we get to bond. Since I am the eldest member of the family, nothing brings joy than seeing them well and happy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I still hustle to earn a living at my age. The job that keeps me going is harvesting sisal reeds for sale. Almost everybody in this village practises it and it's slowly losing market. The earnings are not so sufficient and I cannot meet my needs fully. In this erra I still use the ancient bed because I cannot even afford a matress. I can therefore say lack of enough money to take care of myself is my biggest hardship.
