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.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I planned to build a house and get furniture like mattress for my room and also pay my children school fees this was the goal i had before receiving this transfer.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly help the poor people with money to do important things in their lives. I was able to send my children to school and do other things that are important to me.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I bought mattress, bundle of zinc, zinc nails and gas to sawed planks.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
42500 LRD ($300 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I do not have a new plan for this second transfer. I will think about a new plan after I have completed my house materials.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Givedirectly does well by sending us money to make our lives better. They put food on our tables and also have our children in school. Givedirectly does not have a bad image.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I've planned to buy additional bundles of zinc along with nails. I will also buy one mattress for my room. My food is finished, I will get few food items after withdrawing my cash.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
40375 LRD ($284 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I came from harvesting rice one evening when I heard my neighbours telling everyone to check their phone because Give Directly has sent her a transfer. When I got this information, I hurriedly ran to our network place to check my message inbox. As soon I got there the message was not on my phone so I decided to check my mobile money balance to confirm if Give Directly has sent my transfer. Upon entering my pin code I saw the transfer, at that moment my heart was filled with joy because it was my first time handling a huge sum of money.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Although I have been surviving on farming. My husband and I have to do hard work such as burning charcoal and farming before earning money to support our kids. My husband and I have planned on several occasions to farm and durn charcoal so that we can generate money to build a house but we were unable to fulfilled our plan because of the hardship. Since I started receiving my transfer, I was able to buy zinc with my first transfer and I'm planning to start the house project as soon as possible.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I bought zinc, paid my children tuition and bought food for my family with my transfer.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
When I receive this cash transfer, I will use some to build my own house, send my children to school and use the balance to start a business in order to sustain my family to bring some joy within my family.
I make farm to cater to my kids and some family relatives but the money generated from the farm is only used to get food for the farm. My children are not going to school now because the money I earned from farming can not meet every needs and school fees.
The house I live in is not my own and I had to pay monthly rent of one thousand Liberian dollars ($1000) and when the month is coming to end, I am always worried. If I receive this cash transfer I will build my own house, send my kids to better school and start a business.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In the last six months what has brought me joy or happiness is when my ex-husband called me in July 2021 and surprised me with ten thousand Liberian dollars. That time things were very difficult and the July 26 or independence day celebration was drawing closer. I was able to buy some clothes for kids to celebrate the independence day with their friends. It brought me so much Joy and relief of burden...
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The challenges I am currently facing is money and food to sustain my family.
The house I am currently living in is not mine, I am renting and have to pay monthly rent of one thousand dollars which is something that worries me a lot. I am just a farmer, the only source of income, and feedings for me.
My kids are not going to school anymore because I earned very less that can not meet all our needs. I will really appreciate any help I can get to improve my livelihood.
