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 biggest difference in your daily life.
Previously, I slept in a house that was unplastered and with uncemented floor that was dusty and the rains had started washing the wall. After getting my cash transfer, I was in position to acquire cement, sand and marum that are being used for plastering and cementing the floor. Once the construction work is over, I expect to sleep in clean house, free from dust with a better door and windows which would have taken me over 3 year to accomplish had I not recieved the GiveDirectly's money. Further more, I was in position to buy goats that will be of help in future for children's education and paying their medical bills.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I recieved my money, I became very happy became I had got money that would enable me plaster my house and buy a better door and windows.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent my first transfer to purchase 10 bags of cement, 2 trips of sand, 2 trip of marum, a door, 2 windows, a bed, a mattress, clothes, 3 goats, foodstuffs and paid for construction labour.
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means I will buy oxen in order to support my household in ploughing. I will be able to culitivate in large pieces of land which in turn will lead to high/ bumper harvest. I will eat some within the household and the balance can be sold in order to meet other household needs like medication and purchasing non locally available food stuffs like salt, meat, fish, to mention. Currently, I dig with a hand hoe, that is quite tedious and I can not cultivate in large pieces of land.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiest part of the day is at around 2:00pm when I have eaten lunch. It's My resting time and my children play around me, a sign that they are happy. Their happiness is my happiness too.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Inadequate income is my biggest hardship. I am a peasant farmer relying on rain fed agriculture. When the rains delay, I can not do much but I have to wait until when they begin to fall. By the time it falls, it finds me with some debts which takes whatever I had leaving me with no income.