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 heard the message at around six am and on confirmation, I realized that it was the transfer. I had to wake up my husband to share the good news and it was in deed a joyous moment for us. The excitement of receiving the money was too overwhelming to continue lying in bed, so we got up and prepared for our daily duties so that we could also have time to decide what we wanted to buy among all the needs that we had.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Among all of the things that we purchased with the money, the tank has brought the biggest difference in my daily life as it helps me harvest and store rainwater for domestic use. This means that I don't have to travel a long distance to get water from the river and it also provides clean water that reduces the health risks that we faced while using contaminated river water.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
We spent most of the first transfer on a 3000 liter water tank to help us harvest rain water. Our aim was to curb the water problem that we've had for a long time in our region which ultimately affected our day lives. We depended on a seasonal river that was five kilometers away and when it dried up, we would be forced to buy water at a very expensive price from the local water vendors.
We also launched a small chicken project where we bought 12 local breed chicken that now provides us with eggs for domestic consumption and for sale. This now means that my family can have a change in diet and whenever I sell the eggs,I can raise money for dome of the household needs without having to depend on my husband. The rest of the money was spent on foodstuff and clothing.
Enrolled
access_time over 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
When I receive my first $550, I have planned to install a 3,000 litre capacity water tank worth $250 and a heifer for $180. The water tank will solve a water crisis that has seen me waste so much time everyday going to water pans in long distances which in any case is not clean and safe for use in the household.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I am a fulltime housewife while my husband is a secondary school teacher. While I am at home, I wake up early to make breakfast for my children, do laundry and cultivate my small maize farm before catching up with friends in the afternoon. This makes my day happy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The shortage of water in my community has in great depth affected food security. With scarce rainfall distribution throughout the year, pasture for our livestock, water for domestic use and cultivation of farms has been greatly jeopardized.
