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 fine when I received this money. I was stranded and didn't even know how to get my children school fees for this academy year. Also my house has been damaged for a long time and I have been thinking about renovating it but but no money.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Emotionally, I have been feeling relief and happy every day since I received this money. Some of my financial burdens have reduced. My children are happily in school and I have food in my house.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I bought two bundles of zinc, one for the renovation of my house and the other one for my proposed new house, I paid my five children first semester school fees and I bought food for my family and I.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means my five children tuition will be paid in full and my wife will also become a business woman. My wife and I are blessed with five children but due to financial constraints, we have not been able to meet up with the obligation of their schooling. I lost my job about six years ago which was the only source of income for my family. As a result of this, my children had to drop out of school since we could no longer meet up with the demands of their schools. This situation has been very embarrassing for me and it makes me to feel sad everyday knowing that I am not able to meet the basic needs of my family. If I receive this cash transfer, i will make sure that all of my children tuitions are paid in full. I will also establish a business which will be taken care of by my wife to enable us have a stable income to meet our basic needs.
What is the happiest part of your day?
What brought me joy and happiness in the last six months is the financial assistance I received from my sister for my wife's treatment. My wife fell ill about seven months ago as a result of an injury that she sustained on her knee. Due to my financial situation, I could not afford the finances needed for her treatment. Five months ago, my sister who lives in another village closer to ours took her to a herbalist and shouldered all of the costs. This really made me to feel very happy because my wife could have died because I did not have the finances to pay for her treatment.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The challenges that I am currently facing are food and tuition for my children. I lost my job about six years ago which was the only source of income for my family. As a result of this, my children dropped out of school because I could no longer afford their tuition. I have to go fishing on a daily basis and sell the fish to enable us have food. In most instances, what we get from this is not always enough for us. I feel very bad about this situation because as the head of the home I feel that I have failed my family since I am not able to meet their basic needs.
