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.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I would like to commend the organization for giving us an opportunity to change our lives by giving us unconditional transfers. The abject poverty has forced many to go through serious challenges such as sleeping on empty stomachs for a long period. This is, however, changing with the help of unconditional transfers. I would like to urge the organization to increase the monthly stipend so that we can cope with the sharply increasing food items present in our village.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
At the time of receiving my transfer, it was unfortunate that I lost my stepson after suffering from a brief illness. His death came when I was struggling financially. I am of old age and I no longer work and fully depend on my son, who works in town as a casual laborer. Upon receiving my transfer, I spent KES 2000 buying food that was consumed by mourners during the burial. Besides buying food, I spent the remaining KES 1000 on preparations for his burial by buying the casket to accord him a befitting send-off. I am glad that the ceremony went on well with no hitches, bearing in mind that we did not have enough money to uphold the ceremony.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($10 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
Anyone close by would attest to the level of happiness I expressed upon receipt of the transfer. I grinned from ear to ear for I knew the amount of weight the money would relieve off my shoulders. At last, the long wait was over. Having slept on an empty stomach the previous night, it was hard to hide the excitement for eventually affording some food.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
My current life is distinct from before I received the cash. The transfer increased the frequency of daily meal consumption in the family from once to twice. The first five days after obtaining money were the happiest since there was enough food to eat for breakfast, lunch, and supper.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Going without food is normal in the household; on a good day, we eat at most once. Our breadwinner is my son who hustles from one casual job to another as long as he earns some money in the end. Due to the nature of his work, the income is so inconsistent that he sometimes sends nothing home. For such cases, our family of seven members is forced to survive on the little food left and starve until he provides cash. I was glad to finally receive the transfer (KES 1200) because it proved useful in putting meals on the table and placing a hold on the hunger.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
A decent life has been my long-time desire. Spending nights on a bed without a mattress with 4 of my grandchildren has been my life for more than 2 years now. First, I intend to expand my single room house to 3 rooms to comfortably accommodate more people. I will then buy 2 mattresses and 2 beds for 15,000 KES. With a bigger house and decent sleeping beddings, I will be the happiest person ever.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Due to the drought that was experienced last year, all the nearby water pans dried up. At my old age of 64 years, I was forced to walk for 2 km a day to fetch 20 liters of water. The water was salty and unfit for drinking. It was tedious and energy draining. The trips left me with severe body aches. I was overjoyed in December 2021 because we received heavy rains that filled all the water pans. I now only walk for 100 meters to fetch water.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Old age comes with economic unproductivity due to mobility limitations. At 64 years of age, I can no longer actively do farming or charcoal-burning as before. This leaves me with no other option other than depending on my sons who work in Mombasa. Sometimes I feel I am overburdening them because they also have their families to take care of.
