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?
When I received my first transfer, I had just finished a casual job of clearing the school compound nearby. It was around 1 pm, and I was about to leave when a message came in confirming that I had received $200 from GiveDirectly. I was filled with happiness, but I kept it to myself because there were many people around. Instantly, The plans I had longed to fulfill but couldn't due to lack of finances came to my mind. Now, it seemed like my dream was finally going to come true. Thank you GiveDirectly for fulfilling your promise.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
My kitchen garden has always been open, and I had never planted anything until now due to exposure to livestock roaming around. After fencing it, I started by planting millet and am planning to plant vegetables and fruits next. My other piece of land, which used to be bare and bushy, is now filled with green fodder crops. I planted grass there, fulfilling my long-term dream. This would not have been possible without GiveDirectly's support. Thank you, GiveDirectly!
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent $105 from my first transfer to fulfill my long-term plan of fencing my quarter-acre land. Fencing had always been my dream because, without it, I couldn't utilize my kitchen garden. It was open, and livestock roamed freely, preventing me from planting fruits or vegetables. Additionally, I had a two-acre piece of land that I had wanted to plant with fodder crops. This land had been unused and bushy for a long time, but the money allowed me to clear it and start planting using $70. With the remaining money, I bought food. I am a poultry farmer with about seventy chicks, and my initial plan was to sell them upon maturity to fund these projects. However, thanks to GiveDirectly, I was able to achieve these goals without selling my chickens. I sustain myself through poultry and crop farming, although crops can be unreliable due to lack of capital and occasional crop failure due to climate shocks hence poultry farming serves as an alternative source of income.
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access_time 4 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
When I receive my transfers, I am eager to invest in fencing my 1/8 acre plot for kitchen gardening. Since I already rear goats, obtaining manure will not be an issue, as I plan to utilize their droppings for fertilizer. I will spend $130 for this purpose, alongside $300 for a water tank to store irrigation water. Additionally, I intend to spend $400 on expanding my poultry house, as I am keen on scaling up poultry farming. It is gratifying to contribute to our household income, supporting my husband, who serves as an administrative police officer. This investment aligns with our goal of securing our financial future through diversified farming activities as well as improving the food security for the family of seven.
What is the happiest part of your day?
It is fulfilling being a farmer, especially when I cultivated animal feeds on my 3-acre plot to not only sell the seeds but also provide for my family of seven. Four months back, I had a good harvest, yielding 50 bales of hay and 20 bags of seeds. Selling 16 bags brought in $640, a significant contribution to our finances. Additionally, storing the bales as feed for our two cows ensured their nourishment. This cycle of harvesting and selling not only generates income but also secures seeds for the next season, making it a reliable source of support for my family's financial and food security needs. I was excited about the financial breakthrough that this venture brought to my life.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Running our poultry and goat-rearing business here in Marigat has been quite the challenge. Despite the climate being perfect for our animals, expanding the venture has been hindered by financial limitations. With my husband's administrative police job and a family of seven relying on this income, the pressure is immense. Dealing with disease outbreaks is especially disheartening, often leading to premature sales and financial losses due to the inability to afford treatment.
