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 biggest difference in your daily life.
I was greatly distressed about how I would get the means to reduce my children's fees arrears so that they would be allowed back to school. My sources of income are not reliable for I am a casual worker. However, through the transfer I received from GiveDirectly, I was able to reduce the arrears to a manageable level and my children are now allowed back to school. To me, paying for my children's fees to continue with their studies is the biggest difference in my daily life.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was very happy and full of joy that morning when I received the message from GiveDirectly notifying me of having received my first transfer from it since there were some things which to me seemed impossible because of my unstable financial status. I was thankful to GiveDirectly since the money would help me a lot in paying for my children's school fees.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I had a huge school fee arrears for my children in high school and one who is in college and because my financial status was no that good, I was unable to clear the fees for all of them. On receiving the transfer, I paid a portion for each of them in to reduce their arrears. I am happy that GiveDirectly has at least relieved me the burden of some costs. I also bought a sewing machine for my grand-daughter who had gone through a polytechnic in tailoring skills but because finances were not enough she could not acquire her own machine but instead hired our neighbour's. Now she has her own machine and operating her own shop and earning a good income. I also bought five goats to keep as assets and for security for my children's future education since they will be reproducing and increasing in number some years to come as my children will be progressing in their education. I also acquired a solar panel on hire purchase terms and spent part of the transfer to pay for the deposit and some months' instalments in advance. The solar helps in lighting my household and also charging my mobile phone and other peoples phones at a small fee, which is a source of income to me.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have been living in my son's house for the last two years after heavy rains destroyed my house.Receiving this money means I can now construct my own spacious house and restore my dignity in the society because living in a child's house is culturally demeaning.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning when I wake up and in good health to take up my duties of casual jobs.At this time, I beam with optimism unlike when I am unwell and still has to worry of what my family members will eat being that I am the sole breadwinner.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced is food insecurity. The land is available but largely unproductive and the rains are unreliable.Furthermore, the amount of money I get from casual jobs is not enough to afford the exorbitant food prices.This has forced my family members to live on one meal a day.
