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 the money was the happiest day in my life. I saw that it was at last possible for me to definitely rise out of poverty and improve my living conditions by building a better house in my home.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life is the house that I put up. I was living in a very old house. Its roof was already leaking since it was thatched with grass. In its place now stands a beautiful iron sheet roofed house that is big enough for my family.Having this hous made me happy living hear and enjoying a good housing just like my neighbours and friends who had the ability to build on their own.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent the first transfer on building a house and buying some furniture. I also bought some foodstuffs. Growing maize has become unpfoductive due to the recurrent droughts. Also milk production is down because of poor feeds and very little pasture.i finally bought some clothes for the children.
Enrolled
access_time 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My dream has been to start a small kiosk business in the village so that I may have a reliable source of income for my family. I will use my first transfer to construct a small structure for the shop and to purchase some stocks. I will spend my second transfer on purchasing a dairy cow for my husband so the he get a reliable job. He will be able to sell milk in the village once it give birth. Therefore, this all what receiving this money means to me.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiest part of the day is in the evening when my husband returns home with food for the family. Eating and chatting together with my family gives me joy and relief from the stress of life.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of a reliable source of income has been the biggest hardship I have faced in life. This has forced my husband to engage in temporary and low paying casual activities like weeding in my neighbor's farm. Despite spending the entire day doing this job he earns only 1.5 dollars per day, which is hardly enough to feed and buying clothes for the family.
