GDLive Newsfeed
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.
Mukandinda's family
access_time 11 months ago
Mukandinda received a $426 second payment.
"Nkuko ndangije kubigaragaza maze gukataza kubera inkunga ya GiveDirectly, mu myaka iri imbere rero ndizera ko nzagera ku iterambere rirambye nkuhaza muri byose ubukene bukaba amateka kuko inkunga ya GiveDirectly ari umusingi ukomeye nzubakiraho amateka meza yo gusezerera ubukene bugasigara ari amateka, rwose ndumva mu myaka iri imbere nzaba ndi umuhinzi w'intangarugero wihaza agasagurira n'isoko."
Sote's family
access_time 11 months ago
Sote received a $132 initial payment.
"Receiving my first transfer from GiveDirectly was a moment that I will never forget. I vividly remember the excitement that filled my heart when I received the Mpesa message that confirmed the receipt. It was a feeling of relief, knowing that I would finally resolve the problem that had been ailing my family for a long time. Previously, my family of three had been living in a grass-thatched hut, and during rainy seasons, it was always a nightmare for us. It was unfortunate that our happiness was short-lived when a neighbor's cattle invaded my compound and destroyed half of the grass-thatched roof, leaving me heartbroken. However, after receiving the transfer, I knew that our days of suffering were over. I made a decision to prioritize the construction of a new house. I spent $150 on construction materials, paid the transport cost, and topped up the remaining amount with my savings to pay the labor charges. In just one day, the cubical iron sheet house was complete, and it was everything I had hoped for. The joy that filled my heart was uncontainable, knowing that I would no longer spend money on frequent repairs on the walls and the roof. Instead, I could now use the money to provide enough food for my family. My elder daughter and her two children also live with us, and her wages from casual labor help in sorting other household bills. I am forever grateful that my family now lives in a comfortable home."
Caroline's family
access_time 1 year ago
Caroline received a $438 initial payment.
"I was working in my farm that day at around 4:00 pm when I heard my phone ring and upon checking I confirmed that I had indeed received money from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy that I was finally going to be able to pay school fees for my children who had huge school fees arears. I only informed my mother in law of the same and she realized that she had received hers too. The whole village was in a jubilant mood. I could hear people walking along the road with everyone very busy trying to withdraw the money as soon as they could."
Paulina's family
access_time 1 year ago
Paulina received a $144 initial payment.
"We moved away from the land we had built on the lake's edge ten years ago when the lake waters rose and covered most of our land and eventually houses. Since then, we have been looking for a place to live on a neighbor's vast land, which, while not ideal, I am grateful for because he generously donated that piece for us to live on. Due to its proximity to the lake, the first stop was a swampy area that would be infested with wild animals and snakes. We later moved to a raised ground on the same land owned by a neighbor and began building a new house, which we never finished. We were unable to build a good house due to the movement, but I am grateful that after receiving the transfer, we were able to put up a spacious structure made of iron sheet walls, with three cubicle rooms shared by my family of eight. I also spent $105 on 15 bags of cement, $40 on sand, and $10 on labor. I am grateful and hope to use the remaining funds to pay school fees and purchase goats. We had relied extensively on casual labor, which included working on other people's farms and I hope to see a lot changing with the support we are getting in the subsequent transfers."
Gilbert's family
access_time 1 year ago
Gilbert received a $144 initial payment.
"The joy of seeing a lot of transformation in my house is the biggest difference in my daily life. The transfers came when I had an open house with only a mattress and a few utensils inside, but now I have a good seat and a storage facility, which has improved the house. Despite the fact that it is a small cubicle room made of iron sheets, it is now orderly, and I am happy to be home every time and not embarrassed to have visitors."
Sarah's family
access_time 1 year ago
Sarah received an initial payment.
"I had just come from the bush with fire wood on my head and I saw people happily moving up and down singing songs with Givedirectly's name. I asked what happened and a neighbor narrated to me that they were jubilating because the money GiveDirectly promised had arrived. I threw my wood bundle down and joined in with dancing. I was so happy and my feet even got dusty. I made plans to go for my money and buy my zinc for a new house."
Frances's family
access_time 1 year ago
Frances received a $227 initial payment.
"I was planting cocoa on my farm when my trustee reached me with information that he checked my phone and saw my money from GiveDirectly. I shouted with Joy upon hearing the news; I stopped work and started thanking God for such a great opportunity. I continued working after few minutes of jubilation and in the process, I was saying out loud what I'd do with the money."
Faith's family
access_time 1 year ago
Faith received a $145 initial payment.
"My husband and I have a three-year-old and a child, and we all live in a single cubicle that my husband built two years ago. We had hoped to build a better house, but financial insecurity has kept us working as casual laborers around the village in order to buy construction materials. I was relieved when I was accepted into GiveDirectly's free cash transfer program, which gave us hope of making our dream a reality. After receiving the funds, I spent $130 on construction materials, which included 10 iron sheets at $9 each, 20 roofing frames at $6, 3 Kg nails, and transportation. I am still hoping to buy more iron sheets because I need more space and plan to use them on both the roof and the walls. I also purchased 20 kilos of dry maize grains for $12, 10 kilos of beans for $10, and other household items that I am still using to feed my family of three. We have started construction and are looking forward to putting up a new house once we get the second transfer."
Chepotengor's family
access_time 1 year ago
Chepotengor received a $145 initial payment.
"After receiving the funds, I made construction my top priority. I spent $208 on 15 iron sheets to add to the five I already had, and I built a cubicle room that I moved into immediately after the roof was replaced. To pay the labor fees, I had to sell one of my five goats. I had to utilize the only material that was readily available—iron sheets—on both the walls and the roof, despite the fact that our climate is characterized by a scorching sun that maintains the temperature high throughout the whole year. I am relieved that the very cold evenings are behind me, as well as the annoying mosquitoes that used to keep me up at night. I no longer have to worry about having a higher risk of contracting malaria, and I will have better protection from an invasion by crawling animals. My standard of living has increased to that of other villagers. I am hoping to buy some land in the future and also assist my son's beekeeping pursuits, even though I am still dependent on the illegal burning and sale of charcoal to feed my family of four and am still residing on my neighbor's property."
Wakobubi's family
access_time over 1 year ago
Wakobubi enrolled.
"I currently face a problem of landslide which makes us always that may be swept away and lose our live. I also go through hardships to raise school because I am un able to start up even a small business that can earn dialy income to cater basic needs and school for my children."
UBI