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.
Richard's family
access_time 4 years ago
Richard received a $517 second payment.
"After receiving the transfers, I have achieved to restock my livestock keeping business. I had spent all the money and sold cattle that I had on hospital bills for my wife. I was glad to be able to own livestock again! Cows are important to me when it comes to paying school fees and feeding my family. I could easily raise school fees by selling some of the animals and also from selling milk. The money from GiveDirectly put me back to the position where I can handle my household responsibilities."
Riziki's family
access_time 4 years ago
Riziki received a $517 second payment.
"My life is different from how it would be because as we speak I have moved to a bricked, iron-roofed house with a plastered floor. I have all the necessities that a household requires thanks to GD's transfers. Before, I was in a grass-thatched house with a mud wall. I did not have utensils and the floor was also mud. This was uncomfortable but bearable because there was no option out."
Shida's family
access_time 4 years ago
Shida received a $517 second payment.
"I have been living in a grass thatched house which my husband built three years ago. During that time, its status has deteriorated with time and of late no matter how many times we smear it and repair the roof by putting new grass, it was like we were wasting resources, energy and time. It was old, small and even leaning on one side. It was time we built a new house. Since we did not have the resources, we had to wait a little longer and pray it did not collapse before we built a new one. This is why my priority was to buy building material such as iron sheets, timber and nails which I have used to put up a decent iron-roofed house. I feel so proud of the house and I am determined to plaster it and make it semi-permanent."
Rehema's family
access_time 4 years ago
Rehema received a $517 second payment.
"The fact that we now have a stable source of income we can rely on is a very important step in my life. But I am more pleased with the fact that I have my own livestock. I have seen so many people have their own and I felt left behind because even my agemates have. It is the best investment because it requires very little resources to keep and take care of unlike even the motorcycle we bought. The fact that I used part of my transfers to buy two goats makes me happy because they will reproduce in no time and the number will increase. Anytime I have any financial emergency, I don't have to rely on others but can sell some of the goats to raise money."
Janeth's family
access_time 4 years ago
Janeth received a $517 second payment.
"School fees have been my major financial problem. I have never managed to pay in time because of my low income from casual work. The little I do get on a daily basis has never been even enough for our basic needs. This is why my children have always been sent home on a monthly basis for fees. When I received both my first and second transfers, one major issue I used them on was fees arrears for my children. I am glad because, from the time I received the first until now, they have never been sent home for arrears anymore."
Sophia's family
access_time 4 years ago
Sophia enrolled.
"Owning a house is my biggest desire that I have not achieved for long ever since I returned home after the death of my husband 7 years ago. I have been seeking refuge in my brother's house and in most cases when he comes home during his leave days, I am forced to shift to the kitchen something that lowers my dignity. My wish once I receive the first transfer is to construct a two-roomed semi-permanent house at an estimated cost of 350 dollars. This will give my life a better version, a standard that I have long wished. On the other hand, I intend to use part of my second transfer to seek the removal of metal plates in my leg which were fixed 3 years ago after having fractures due to an accident. The remaining amount will help me to buy 2 indigenous dairy cows that will act as my long term investment project to aid in my children's education in the future."
Elizabeth's family
access_time 4 years ago
Elizabeth received a $535 initial payment.
"Having have sending my children to school has brought the biggest difference in my life. This is because they were always sent home to collect fees and they could stay for weeks before they could resume. This was brought about by the [pverty life that I had, my spouse and I were jobless and were only depending on farming. But because their is drought in my village most of the time we were not getting any jobs in peoples farms. This was really affecting our children academically. One was joining the high school this year and I am very sure he could still be at home because I did not afford it. I am so grateful because I managed to take him to school and cleared the school fees for the rest. I just wish all my children to get some good education for their bright future."
Dama's family
access_time 4 years ago
Dama received a $517 second payment.
"The greatest difference in my life is that I was able to clear school fees arrears for my child with the money which I had received as my second transfers. At the time when Give directly came, I was wondering how I would manage to pay his school fees as he had been frequently sent home for school fees which I couldn't afford to raise. Apart from Paying school fees I also spent part of the transfers on purchasing building materials for constructing a better and more spacious house. I am happy now we got a better house which can accommodate us well with my family."
Kanze's family
access_time 4 years ago
Kanze received a $517 second payment.
"My biggest difference is that y child was able to join secondary school in time as required, with all the needs and without having neither a debt in school or anyone else in the village. It is a miracle in my life is that I have always depended on a small income from coconut business which could not even meet our needs. My life has been a struggle and my children have always studied in struggles of being sent home every now and again. My son almost gave up in continuing with education because he knew I would not afford to meet the needs in time. But with GD transfers, I was able to mee the needs in time comfortably. He is now in school and has never been sent home again.school fees"
Denis's family
access_time 4 years ago
Denis received a $39 fourteenth payment.
"My new goal is to boost my cloth business by adding more stock to the business. The business was not doing well because I had started using part of the resources from the business for my personal needs without investing back and I feared the business would collapse anytime. I am glad the fear is no more."