GDLive | GiveDirectly

Unfiltered, unedited stories

We’re committed to transparency and use our survey technology to collect and share real-time updates and stories in this live newsfeed.

Browse the real, unedited profiles of the recipients we serve, learn about their aspirations, and follow them to stay updated as their lives move forward.

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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.

Robert received a $334 second payment.

"As a solar agent primarily compensated through commissions, I serve as the financial provider for my wife and younger siblings who are still attending school. In a favorable month, my earnings amount to $240. However, a significant portion, $80, is allocated to transportation costs as I often sell solar lamps and panels in locations distant from my residence. Consequently, I am left with only $160, which proves insufficient to sustain my family for an entire month. Fortunately, GiveDirectly played a focal role in realizing my aspiration of owning a motorcycle. Upon receiving the second transfer, I utilized $530 from the funds, along with some cash I had saved from the initial transfer, to acquire my own red motorbike. I believe this investment will enable me to save a considerable portion of my business income, alleviating the financial strain on my family. I am pleased to no longer bear the burden of covering transportation expenses for my family, allowing me to redirect the saved funds towards addressing other essential needs within the household."

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Kahindi received a $22 second payment.

"Together with my family, we have made the decision to set aside a portion of my future transfers for several months. This saving initiative aims to facilitate my access to a correctional facility, where I can receive the necessary support to improve and pursue a better life. I am elated by the financial support, recognizing its pivotal role in my journey towards recovery. Without this assistance, the level of poverty within my family would have hindered my ability to seek help at the correctional facility."

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Kadzo received a $22 twenty-second payment.

"Looking ahead, my intention in the forthcoming months is to utilize my transfers to finalize the remaining tasks on the walls and acquire a new wooden bed and mattress. The replacement of my broken sisal bed and the addition of a mattress are essential to alleviate the back pains I have been experiencing. I am profoundly thankful for the financial assistance, which has played a pivotal role in enhancing the quality of my life."

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Maria received a $283 second payment.

"The support I received from GiveDirectly has truly transformed my life. It's not just different but better. The impact of their assistance has been profound, ushering in positive changes that have touched every aspect of my existence. I am sincerely grateful for the brighter outlook it has bestowed upon me.GiveDirectly's commitment to making a difference is nothing short of inspiring. I hope they continue their admirable mission of touching and improving even more lives."

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Antonina received a $334 second payment.

"GiveDirectly has been a beacon of positive change in my life, restoring a long-forgotten hope for continuing my education. The support received has illuminated a path to a brighter future for me. Grateful and overjoyed, I extend my heartfelt appreciation to the company. As a word of advice, I suggest amplifying efforts in community sanitization before cash distribution, ensuring that the impact of the assistance is maximized and used wisely by the recipients."

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Mbengu received a $346 initial payment.

"In the midst of the rainy season, around 4 in the evening, I was knee-deep on my farm, diligently planting maize under the gentle patter of raindrops. The rhythmic sounds of nature were interrupted by the loud vibrations of my phone. Illiterate but not devoid of hope, I turned to my son, who was accompanying me, and asked him to decipher the message. As he relayed the news that I had received my first unconditional cash transfer from GiveDirectly, a surge of joy swept over me. In that instant, amid the mud and the rain, a simple truth emerged: we could finally afford a meal that evening. The burden of scarcity that had been a persistent challenge seemed to lift, replaced by a sense of relief and gratitude for the unexpected support that promised not just sustenance for a day but a glimmer of hope for the rainy seasons ahead."

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Hellen received a $126 initial payment.

"Since I began getting money from GiveDirectly, the biggest change in my life is the happiness in my family. Now, my family is healthy because we drink fresh water. Before, my kids were getting sick from the river water, but that has changed. Another big change is in my maize farm. I'm waiting for a big harvest, and that's something new. Usually, I couldn't afford fertilizer for my crops, but now, with the help I get, I can. It means my farm is healthier, and I'm expecting more maize than before. The changes in my family's health and the success of my farm make me really happy. It's like a brighter future for all of us."

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Sammy received a $113 initial payment.

"Since I began getting transfers from GiveDirectly, the most significant change has been in our meals. Before, finding enough food was hard work and exhausting. Now, with the regular transfers, the burden of hunger has become smaller. I don't have to struggle so much just to make sure there's enough to eat. The impact goes beyond the table. The biggest change is the happiness in my family. As a single father with three kids, it's amazing to see how the atmosphere at home has shifted. The worry about where our next meal will come from has lessened, and that brings a lot of joy. It's not just about food; it's about the comfort and security that regular support has brought to our lives. With this help, our family is now happier, and that's a change I treasure every day."

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Namakanda received a $616 initial payment.

"There is a big difference in my life, my level has been raised, I afforded the cloth of 3"

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Sharlet received a $22 twenty-first payment.

"As a newly married woman I know that I will grow my family and have children. I would want to have the financial capacity to take care of my family as it grows even as my husband provides. I decided on the grocery business as food is something people have all the time. I knew I would have business all year round and so I knew that was the best business to invest in. I plan to expand this business further using the Givedirectly transfers. I want to add more things so that in the process I can get to a point where I am selling most things."

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