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?
The moment I received the transfer was so special to me. This was a time marked with great excitement, and even though I was alone in the house then, I could not resist celebrating as I thanked God for that provision. I had been anticipating this after enrollment, and it was a good feeling seeing it come to pass at last.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the joy of having livestock on my farm. This has brought back the hope of soon producing milk from my farm and cutting the high cost of buying from my neighborhood. This is a fulfillment of the dream I had been having. I am grateful that with time, I will be one of the milk sellers in case we will be having a surplus production in the future.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
With $400 of my first transfer, I managed to obtain two heifers as I needed to diversify my farming practices. I had been fully dependent on subsistence farming, and the money I received allowed me to also venture into livestock farming. This has been my plan for quite a long time but I had always been limited by the unavailability of finances. I had always wished to cut the high cost of buying milk from the neighborhood, and spare part of my field to keep livestock that in turn will provide us with enough milk supply. With the remaining $105, I obtained a new piece of furniture and foodstuff for my household.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Livestock is a store of wealth. My fiance is currently in secondary school and will have completed in the next 2 years. Since I do not have another source of income, money from GiveDirectly will help me to buy 2 dairy cows which I believe will have multiplied by the time she completes her studies. I will then convert them to cash in order to pay her dowry. This is what receiving this money mean to me. Purchasing the two cows will cost about $500 from the first transfer.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I am a casual labourer working in a local garage in the village for most part of the day. Most of my age mates work here. It makes a good meeting point to catch up and laugh. I am always happy to be here.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I was planning on getting married last year. Along the way around December, my mother underwent a heart surgery which diminished most of our fortunes, especially livestock. With a hospital bill of about $4,000, we held a fundraiser and sold our cattle to foot the astronomical bill. My plans to get married were shattered as my supposed dowry in form of cattle were no more. My biggest worry is that it would take a longer while before I could get to be with the love of my life.
