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?
It was a Sunday evening when I received $180 from GiveDirectly. I was so happy and grateful to God. After a powerful and meaningful service, I received this unexpected blessing. Excitedly, I rushed home to share the good news with my family, including my four kids. The first thought that came to my mind was to solve our immediate problem—food. All I wanted was to see my children well-fed, especially after the devastating floods that had swept away everything in our village.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference since I started receiving transfers from GiveDirectly is that, despite my farm being swept away by floods and leaving us with nothing to eat, my family now has enough food. I was able to use the money from GiveDirectly to buy enough food to last us for two months, ending the hunger that once plagued us. Now, I can prioritize other things, and I no longer have to do casual jobs just to get food. I'm so happy and grateful to GiveDirectly for this timely support.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon receiving $180 from GiveDirectly, I took time to carefully plan and prioritize my needs. I allocated $90 to buy food, a timely relief, as the transfer came just after I had been severely affected by the floods. I wasn't alone—almost everyone in the village suffered losses. Personally, my farm and chickens were swept away. When we returned from the camp where we had sought refuge, I found there was no food, no farm to harvest from, and no casual jobs to earn money. We were starving.
Thanks to the money from GiveDirectly, I could buy enough food to last my family for two months. Now, we eat three full meals daily, something we couldn’t do before. After securing food, I decided to invest in a sheep, spending $55. I see this as a long-term investment that will multiply over time, ensuring that when my children advance to secondary school, I will have something to rely on for their education.
With the remaining money, I bought chairs, as we previously had nothing to sit on, not even for visitors. Now, I live comfortably, full of happiness and gratitude.
Enrolled
access_time 4 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
To maximize productivity on my 1-acre farm, I will invest $307 in purchasing essential farm inputs such as a generator, HDPE pipes for irrigation, tilling services, high-quality seeds, and watering equipment. This investment aims to address the recurring food shortages my household faces.
To tackle both the food and school fees challenges, I will allocate $154 towards buying food, essential household items, and clothing for my children. A portion of this amount will also contribute to covering school fees for my grade 7 child.
The remaining $385 will be dedicated to constructing a one-room house with a flat iron-sheet roof that can better withstand floodwaters compared to our current mud and pole structure. This new housing solution aims to provide safer and more stable living conditions for my family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The recent floods devastated my home and spoiled our stored food, making it challenging to support my family. I was relieved when my brother Douglas came to our rescue, offering 20 kilograms of maize that sustained us for a week while I searched for other sources of support. This gesture was a significant relief for me and my children during a difficult time.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
As a widow, I face difficulties in acquiring funds to purchase food for my family of five. Our maize farm, which was our main source of income, has been destroyed by recent floods. Additionally, covering the school fees for my seventh-grade child is proving to be a challenge. The $20 I earn daily from casual work is inadequate to meet all our family's needs.
