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 didn't have plans to build my house but since I started receiving transfers from GiveDirectly, I have decided to build a house.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly does everything very well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I bought zinc for the house I intend to build, paid my children tuition and I bought food for my family.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
42500 LRD ($297 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?
Yes. My goal after receiving this money is to fix my house. My house is currently in a very bad condition; the zinc is so old and rotten.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly is doing well by helping people most especially us the poor that don't have it. But for what they are not doing well, I haven't discovered it yet.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent the recent transfer on my woman who had a miscarriage. She was pregnant for about five months, but she lost the pregnancy.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
40375 LRD ($269 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 my farm on a cool evening while sitting in front of my house, I saw my nephew running towards me at the same time shouting that Give Directly has sent mobile money to his phone. When I heard him from distance, I was so happy and I hurriedly ran to the network place to check my phone for the mobile money message. As soon as I turned the phone on, the alert appears on my phone. Right there I started shouting like the others. I felt very happy because I had hoped to start a small business and to build my family a new house.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
My daily life has changed since I started receiving my transfer. I can now afford to eat healthy and nutritious food on time compared to before where I had to go on the farm to work before finding food for my family. Moreover, my wife has started a small business and we are planning to build a new house.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I bought two (2) bundles of zine with my transfer and invested $10,000 into business. We sell fish
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
"I am the Town Chief of this town. If you take a keen look at my house, you will deny that I am the Town Chief. The house of a man speaks for the man, even in his absence. I am now having children and it is so shameful that we sleep in just one room. I have the intention to just change the zinc of my house but the work (burning coal) that I do is not giving me more money to safe and buy the zinc for the house."
"So, if I receive this cash transfer, the main thing that I will do is to build a new house. I will break down this house and build a four room house for me and my children to sleep in. The house that I intend to build will make people to believe that I am really the Town Chief."
What is the happiest part of your day?
"As a Town Chief, what really brought me joy was when ZOA built a Palava Hut for the town. I believe that this was a personal achievement for me because since our town came into existence, we have never had such a structure built here."
"Another thing is that, ZOA also trained me and my citizens on how to plant pineapple, plantain, groundnut and moringa. Because of this project that was done by ZOA, many of my citizens, including myself, have learned how to safe. I am so happy because all these things are happening during my regime as Town Chief!"
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
"I am facing a lot of challenges in my life. I am doing lots of work to ensure that my family has food on their table to eat. I make rice farm, burn coal and cut palm to make oil and feed my family. The work that I do is very hectic."
"Presently, managing my rice farm is a serious problem. I have to buy a 25kg rice bag to be feeding my family while I scare birds from eating the rice on the farm. This job is a major challenge for me because it does not give me any chance to do anything else."
