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?
Until last year, I worked as a waitress at a hotel but had to take a break to focus on farming because the rains had started. This meant that my three children and I solely depended on my husband for daily provisions, and honestly, it weighed heavily on him. Worse still, he also lost his job at a solar plant a few months later. Life took a dramatic turn, and I feared we wouldn't be able to support our children's education. At that point, I owned five goats, and my goal was to own as many livestock as possible. Without a stable source of income, at least rearing livestock would help me accumulate wealth as they reproduced, and I could sell them to raise school fees for my children in the future. So when I received the funds, I used $145 to buy three more goats to grow the herd. Additionally, my old mattress had become tattered from long use, and it was uncomfortable to sleep on. I spent $62 to buy a new one and I now enjoy my sleep. My husband and I had planned to lease at least two acres of land along River Galana for maize farming, but the area had flooded due to heavy rains upcountry. Farming along this area would ensure increased harvests and more food security for our family compared to farming in our village, where poor soil and climate hampered our produce. So, we decided to set aside $330 for leasing the land and paying for farming activities when the water dries up.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Before the cash transfers came in, I lost two of my goats to a disease, which was really painful because I had invested a lot in keeping livestock. Having paused my job as a waitress, rearing livestock had become my best shot at contributing to the needs of my three children and supporting my husband, who had also lost his job. Losing the very thing I had put so much faith in was frustrating. I was hoping for a chance to replace the lost goats, but it had all been in vain until GiveDirectly sent the cash transfers. I immediately obtained three more goats, increasing my herd to eight. This now revives my hope because, more than ever, I am sure I can sell them in the future to raise funds for my children's education. I also hope to continue growing the herd whenever I have a chance.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 3 pm and I was at home pounding maize when my phone chimed with a message notification. I did not have a chance to check the contents because the phone immediately ran out of power and switched off. In the evening, after recharging it, my sister-in-law helped me check the message. I was thrilled when she broke the news that the transfers had come. I knew that my dreams of buying more livestock and leasing land for farming would finally come to fruition. This was a big moment for me.
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access_time 7 months ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of reliable source of income is the current challenge I am facing in life. I do subsistence farming and my husband does casual jobs earning very little income which caters for food and school fees. I have three children schooling at primary level but due to lack of school fees they have been out of school for four days now. This has affected to their performances.The community is dry and the family depends on food from shop and due to the little income the family has been going without food.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The family has been under famine for the last six months due to drought. We take on one meal per day . On November last one ,one of my sister in-law had a wedding and the family slaughtered a bull for the function. There was plenty of food and I really enjoyed. I had last taken chapati two years ago. The wedding brought happiness in my life.
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
I have a family of seven members , I do subsistence farming and the husband does casual jobs. The income caters for food and school fees for the children. The community has been under drought for the past three years and that caused famine. My children and I take one meal per day. I have had the desire to got do farming along river Galana since this is aperinial river but due to lack of funds I could not do so. I will use $550 to buy one acre piece of land at Galana so as to do agribusiness. This will sustain my family and also make me have school fees for the children. I will also use $100 to buy two goats so as to add my investments. I already have three goats. The remaining amount will help me to build a two room house with iron sheets. I currently live in one of my in-laws house which is culturally wrong.