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 my first transfers on my phone I felt so happy and thank God for I knew that he has done it for me. I had no hope in live of changing my house but when I recived the money, I felt so happy as I knew that I will definitely change the face of my house to a better one.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life since is the house which I managed to construct with the aid which I received from Give Directly. The house has brought a lot of benefits to my life. One being a source of water catchment. The water harvested from the roof of my house has enabled me to get clean water for drinking and for domestic use at home. Before, I would go to my neighbours home to fetch some water for drinking from their water tank. At times, I would be turned away and this would be so frustrating to me. Now am so happy that I got a ironed roofed house and I get to collect water which I store for use and drinking.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent a larger portion of my second transfer on buying building materials which include pieces of iron sheets, nails, timber and building poles in order to construct a new house. I was previously living in a grass-thatched hut. I am now happy that I have moved in with my family and we a much comfortable shelter. I spent the remaining amount to buy some basic needs for my family such as foodstuffs,buying clothes, some livestock and other household expenses.
Enrolled
access_time 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have been desiring to own a cow since we have one cow which we share with the other household yet we are polygamous family. My plan is to use 300 USD of our first transfer to buy one and the remaining money, we start building a new house since the one we are in is small. Therefore receiving this money mean we will have a healthy family and a cow of our own.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I am a house wife and I don't engage myself with too much activities of working in order to fend for the family. Since I don't have any school going children, my day starts by going to my small garden of around 0.2 of an acre where I have planted maize, beans and sweet potatoes for home consumption to weed, plant more crops or even dig. The time I am free and feel contented is in the evening after going home with some food from our garden which I will prepare and have as our supper with my husband.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
We have faced biggest hardship in our life due to change of climate. It is almost 10 years now since we harvested sufficient food (maize) owing to the fact that we have face a major challenge in food security due to the unknown disease which attacked our maize plantation. We solely rely on maize for survival in our area since it has been our staple food and we sell the surplus.
