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.
Initially, I did not have access to a good shelter. I was living in a grass-thatched hut that would leak whenever it rained. Although my desire was to upgrade to a better house, I did not have the means to buy all the required materials. I thank GiveDirectly because their financial support has enabled me to build a decent iron-roofed house. I managed to buy enough building materials which includes iron sheets, building poles and also paid the mason for his job. Having a decent shelter makes it the biggest difference in my daily life.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I had received a message notification early in the morning when I was preparing myself for the day's activities. I heard my phone ringing which was a confirmation of a message. The next step of action was to call for my assigned helper who helped me check the message content and confirmed that I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I felt happy and thanked them for this financial support since it meat that I was going to achieve most of my goals.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent a larger portion of my first transfer on purchasing building materials which includes iron sheets and building poles in order to construct a new house. I have been living in a grass thatched house for years. Getting this money has given me an opportunity to upgrade to a better house. I am intending to build a decent iron-roofed one to live with my family. In addition to this, I also bought three goats that I am currently keeping in my homestead. My expectation is for them to reproduce. After some time I can even sell some to meet other family goals. Lastly, I am spending the remaining amount to buy foodstuffs and paying for other household expenses.
Enrolled
access_time over 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My grass thatched house is in very bad shape. The walls are almost collapsing because termites have feasted on the grass. The roof is leaking making it unbearable during the rainy season. Besides, it is very difficult to replace them since it requires hard labour. In addition, it is very small yet it also serves as a kitchen. I therefore plan to construct a better house that will save me the pain of living under such a roof. It will also accommodate my entire family and my grandchildren will not seek shelter anymore.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My nights are very torturous and I always long for the Morning. Once the sun rises, I get extremely happy because it is my therapy. I massage my joints as I bask on the morning sun. This gives me energy to continue with my daily activities.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My biggest hardship is sleeping on very poor beddings. This has been my life for ages. The bed is made of sisal ropes and I do not even have a mat to lay on top. I sleep very uncomfortably because the ropes keep on digging into my skin. I can stay awake for almost 3 hours in a night just to ease the pain. Sometimes I even get nightmares because my mind does enjoy fully relaxation. Who would want to undergo such torture after a whole day of tiresome activities?
