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 have never been happy in my life. The day I received my transfer was the most awesome day I have ever had in my life. I was chatting with my family when I received a text message of the transfer. I did control my happiness such that I danced.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Sometimes I feel like I am living in another world. Honestly, I have been doing farming but I have never earned such amount of money from farming.
I felt great and now I live a happy life, free from worries. I have the food I need and relish which I buy using the money. I am also putting up in a very nice house. I am not afraid of the rainy season because my house is having iron sheets on top.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My main focus was on home improvement. I had stayed for the past years with a grass thatched roof. The transfer I received, gave me an opportunity to buy 20 iron sheets and timber. I replaced the grass thatched roof with iron sheets and paid part of the money to the carpenter.
I then bought beddings. I bought a mattress which costed MK 40 000 and a blacket amounting to MK 25000. I used the remaining amount of money to buy 3 bags of maize for food processing.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
This money means that I will be able to renovate my house. The roof of my house is thatched with grass so I plan to use the money to buy iron sheets which I will use as a new roof for my house. On top of that, I will also buy other building materials that will be needed including new windows. I will also buy food especially maize because I don't have any maize right now. I depend on buying just a few Kilograms which do not even last for so many days.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I am happiest during the harvesting season of rice. Unlike maize, I harvest a lot of rice because rice requires a lot of water.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I face is not having enough maize to last till the next harvesting season. I have a farm near the lake but I lose the maize due to floods which occur so often.
