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.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I bought more zinc and some wood with my most recent transfer. I've also reserved some for the builders to get paid.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly is rhe champion for changing lives. This program that is helping us to achieve our goals and give us a better life is so much well done. Although there's no perfection, I can reasonably say there is nothing I know they don't do well.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My new goal is to build a comfortable house for myself. I will not continue living in a thatch house after GiveDirectly has left. My family need comfort and thankfully GiveDirectly has come to help us achieve that.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
42500 LRD ($276 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I intend to purchase some building materials including zinc and nails for my new house.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly has taken me out of poverty and changed my life and that's a good thing. On the other hand, I can't literally point out anything GiveDirectly does not do well.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
To begin with, I don't have a house. My primary goal is to build a house, a concrete house with zinc in my town. I was satisfied staying with friends and families intermittently but my focus and goal has shifted now that I'm receiving transfers.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
40375 LRD ($264 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I purchased zinc, nails and planks with my recent transfer.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I have been living in a house made out of thatch roof. My transfer received has changed my living condition. I am able to build a modern house to live in.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I have been involved with farming activities for the past years. My plan has been to build my house to live in. I couldn't afford due to the low income received from the farm. I was very excited upon receiving my transfer. I immediately rush to buy zinc and other building materials to build my house.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Some of the difficulties we are faced with are; lack of money and food.
As a family, we dependent on our farm to sponsor our children education and have food to eat.
But sometimes, the farm can not produces enough to feed us and pay our children school fees, making it difficult for us to survive.
So, sometimes, my wife and I have to do daily hired jobs or casual labor to enable us earn money for our children's school fees and food.
What is the happiest part of your day?
What brought happiness to me was, when all our school going children got promotion to their next classes respectively., After all the struggles to sponsor our children's education, at the end of the academy year, they were all promoted, brought so much joy and excitement to me.
What does receiving this money mean to you?
If I am successful to receive my transfer, I will use the money to build my own house
I have planned to use my transfer to build a decent house for my family and I because, presently we are living in a thatch roof mud house and I have been praying to have money that will enable me to build a concrete zinc house for my family and I to live in.
Secondly, I will use some of the money to pay our children school fees, if the money will be enough.
We usually earn our children school fees from our farm produces and sometimes, because of lack of money, after selling the farm produces, we are left with nothing for food and then we go about begging for food.
So the money will be a great help for us.
