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.
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Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
329680 RWF ($302 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was working in the fields at around 9 am when I heard my phones SMS alert tone. I checked and noticed I had received my first GD transfer. I was so happy that I could not hold it so I went back home and everyone in my village was talking about the GD transfer they had just receivied. My neighbors and I decided to call a MoMo agent and he was kind enough to come at our respective homes for the withdrawal. I was already thinking of how I will buy my very own land, buy clothes for my kids and I, new bed sheets and buy a front door for my house.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I used to work in someone else's fields 6 days in a week for just 1 $ per day. I could not think about doing and accomplishing new things because my children and I had to survive with my 1 $ daily salary. Everything is different now; I work 2 or 3 days in someone else's field and I work my own land the remaining of the week. I can see great improvement, better outcome and a brighter future all thanks to GD. I also have to mention I am now able to at least buy a t-shirt for my kids if they ask for one and the whole family eats better since we received our first transfer.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I was able to find a field worth 300 $ but the owner was kind enough to only take 150 $ and let me pay the remaining 150 $ when I receive m second transfer. I bought new bed sheets for 47 $, I bought new clothes and shoes for my kids and I worth around 32 $, I bought a front door for my house worth 19 $, food worth 50 $ and few home appliances for 2 $.
Enrolled
access_time over 1 year ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
First of all I will buy a land of $250, rebuilding my house will cost me $200, I will buy a pig of $20, household furnitures of $150 and I will use the rest buying clothes and food for my children.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The village commumity help me construct this house even if it is not finished yet because I used to live with my step mum, my father and my 2 children. My life was complicated because I had to cook my own meal, we do not share the table.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am living alone with my 2 children, but I have 4 children because of poverty one child lives in another family another one lives with her father in Nyagatare. Feeding my family, I have to work hard in others farm for $0.8 per day. My house is not finished yet, I always feel cold with my children and not sure if the wind will not take out the roof.
