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Write a story
people trust.

Givers do not need long stories. They need true ones, with real details. Here is how to write yours, with examples for every kind of need.

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Say these four things

This is the checklist the app gives you. Three or four sentences is enough.

  1. Your first name and what you do

    “I am Bisi, a hairdresser in Ibadan.” One line tells people you are a real person.

  2. What happened

    In simple words. The fire, the delivery, the salary cut, the notice from the landlord.

  3. What the money will buy, down to the naira

    “The JAMB form and CBT centre fee come to ₦7,700.” If you have paid part already, say how much.

  4. The day you need it

    “The portal closes on the 30th.” A real date helps people understand why it matters now.

Your story needs at least 150 characters before you can continue. The button counts down so you know how far you are.

Example stories for every need

These are the examples the app shows in the empty story box. The people are made up to show the shape of a good story. Write your own.

Medication₦14,500
I am Bisi, a hairdresser in Ibadan. My son has sickle cell and his folic acid and pain drugs finished on Monday. The pharmacy near us sells the full month for ₦14,500. I need it before Friday so he does not end up in hospital again.
  • Who: Bisi, hairdresser
  • Need: one month of drugs
  • By: Friday
Hospital bill₦40,000
I am Musa, a welder in Kaduna. My wife delivered by C-section at the General Hospital on Sunday and the bill is ₦85,000. I have paid ₦45,000 from my savings. The hospital will only discharge her and our baby girl when the balance is cleared.
  • Already paid ₦45,000
  • Exact bill
  • Why it is urgent
School fees₦38,000
I am Chinedu, 300 level Mechanical Engineering at UNN. My father lost his shop in the Onitsha market fire and I still owe ₦38,000 of my school fees. The portal closes on the 30th, and without it I cannot write my exams this semester.
  • School and level
  • What happened
  • Deadline: the 30th
JAMB / WAEC fees₦7,700
I am Aisha, 17, in SS3 in Kano. I have passed all my mock exams and I want to study Nursing. The JAMB form and CBT centre fee come to ₦7,700 and registration closes in two weeks. My mother sells kosai and cannot raise it in time.
  • Her goal
  • Exact cost
  • Closes in two weeks
House rent₦60,000
I am Tolu, a security guard in Surulere. My landlord gave me two weeks to pay the ₦60,000 balance on my rent or leave. I have paid ₦90,000 already but my salary was cut this year. My two children are in school near the house.
  • Already paid ₦90,000
  • Two weeks notice
  • Who it affects
Bus fare₦18,000
I am Emeka, a graduate in Owerri. I got a job as a sales rep in Lagos and I resume on Monday. The bus fare plus feeding until my first salary is ₦18,000. I have the offer letter and can share it. I need it by Saturday to travel on Sunday.
  • Offer letter
  • Fare plus feeding
  • Travels Sunday
Food supplies₦20,000
I am Grace, a widow with three children in Jos. Our crops failed after the flooding and the little I sell at the market no longer feeds us. ₦20,000 will buy a bag of rice, beans and garri that will carry us for a month until harvest.
  • What happened
  • What it buys
  • How long it lasts
Baby food / formula₦19,000
I am Ngozi, a new mother in Enugu. My breast milk is not enough and the doctor said my baby must take formula. One tin is ₦9,500 and she finishes it in a week. ₦19,000 will cover two weeks while I go back to my tailoring work.
  • Doctor's advice
  • Price per tin
  • Two weeks covered

Do and don’t

Do

  • Use your real first name and city
  • Give the exact amount and what it pays for
  • Say what you have already paid or tried
  • Name the date you need it by
  • Attach the bill, invoice, notice or receipt
  • Keep it short and in your own words

Don’t

  • Copy a story from anyone, including our examples
  • Use photos that are not yours or not about your need
  • Round up or add a little extra “just in case”
  • Put your phone number, BVN or bank details in the story
  • Write in all capitals or beg strangers to share
  • Promise to pay back. It is a gift, not a loan

Your voice note and your photos

Voice note, up to 15 seconds

Optional, but it helps. Say your name, what you need and thank people. Find a quiet spot and speak the way you would to a neighbour.

At least one photo

Of you, the bill or the receipt, up to three. Good light, the whole page in the frame, and the amount easy to read.

Your thank you

Every giver sees it the moment they give. The app fills in a warm one for you, and you can change all of it.

You can snap your bill when you say what you need, and we suggest the need and the amount. It is kept as proof and is never used as your card picture. Photos that have been used before are flagged automatically.

Questions

How long should my story be?
At least 150 characters, which is about three sentences, and up to 2,000. Most good stories are short. Say what matters and stop.
Can I copy one of these examples?
No. They are there to show the shape of a good story. In the app the example disappears the moment you start typing. Copied stories are flagged automatically and look fake to givers.
Can I write in Pidgin, Yoruba, Igbo or Hausa?
Write the way you would tell a friend. Clear and true matters more than perfect English.
Can I change my story after posting?
Yes, you can edit a live request. If the change is big, we may check it again before it shows.

Ready? Here is the order

  1. 1

    Write it

    Four things, three or four sentences.

  2. 2

    Add proof

    Your bill and a photo.

  3. 3

Keep reading

How asking works

Three steps, done in five minutes

What you can ask for

Rent, school fees, hospital bills and more

Share your request

Get it to family and WhatsApp groups

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