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 recall being at home relaxing when I received my transfer. When I picked up my phone, I saw a message on the screen confirming that I had received money from GiveDirectly. I was overwhelmed with happiness and excitement. This was the most exciting news I'd heard in a long time. This is because I was confident that we would meet our objectives. I thanked God for the precious gift.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The most significant change in my daily life is that I now own a dairy cow, which was previously impossible due to financial constraints. This means I won't have to worry about buying milk daily for my children which were very expensive, yet I did not have a reliable source of income. The organization's support was extremely valuable in securing our lives, for which I am forever grateful.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a single mother of two children who still live on my parents' property. To support my children, I work as a hairdresser. After receiving my transfer, I decided to purchase a dairy cow in order to reduce the cost of purchasing milk daily, which was costly. As a result, I spent $350 on a dairy cow. Second, I spent $40 on a mattress, and the remainder was spent on groceries. I am so grateful and content that GiveDirectly's assistance has significantly improved my standard of living in such a short period.
Enrolled
access_time almost 2 years ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
I completed my primary education in the year 2016 and dropped out due to lack of school fees since my parents could not afford. I proceeded to a polytechnic to take a hairdressing course which I completed in 2019. I desire to look for a stall to open a salon so that I can grow my skills. At the moment I am just at home nursing my 2-month-old baby and depending solely on my poultry business to make ends meet. I earn $2 daily from the sale of eggs which I spend to buy food for my family. I have tried to save money for my salon business but that has been an impossibility since I am single with no stable income. I intend to spend $300 from my transfer to build a salon business from the ground up and I am certain that this will make a difference in my life.
What is the happiest part of your day?
3 months ago I gave birth to a bouncy baby girl and I named her Blessings. Giving birth safely without any related complications is something that made me happy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Being a single mother of two, life has not been easy for me. At 22 years, I feel like I am going through challenges that are way above my age. My family is going through financial challenges that are occasioned by lack of a stable income. I am a poultry farmer collecting at least 20 eggs per day which I sell locally for $0.2 each. I have a 2-month-old baby who requires pampers which are expensive to buy.
