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.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
In the coming years, I plan to focus on rearing livestock to keep myself busy and avoid hard labor. By nurturing my animals, I can sell them when the time is right, providing a steady income for my family. Additionally, I want to start rearing poultry, which will give us more sources of food and income.I also intend to continue farming, particularly by planting Napier grass. This will ensure that my cows have plenty to eat at home, improving their health and productivity. With these plans, I aim to create a more sustainable and stable future for my family, allowing us to thrive and have a better quality of life.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly has done a great job of educating us about their program and its goals. Their genuine desire to improve our lives and uplift our entire village is clear. The guidance they provided was helpful, and the thoughtful questions they asked about our plans for the funds showed their commitment to understanding our specific needs. This respectful approach made us feel valued and inspired us to take meaningful steps to improve our lives. In my village, I haven't heard anyone express negative opinions about the program; instead, the feedback has been very positive.As for areas of improvement, I honestly haven’t found any major concerns. The whole process ran smoothly, and everything was managed well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Receiving my unconditional cash transfer of $450 was a turning point for my family. I decided to invest in livestock because they provide not only food but also a source of income. I purchased a cow for $250 that is almost ready to give birth, and I bought four goats for $180. To my joy, two of the sheep have already given birth, and one even had twins! These animals will help secure our future, as I love livestock and see them as a way to build stability for my family, especially since sheep multiply easily. I also allocated $10 for my children’s school uniforms and another $10 for food. With seven children to support, it has been challenging to keep up with their needs, especially since they had been going without uniforms for too long. My husband, who works as a bodaboda rider, and I depend on charcoal burning and casual jobs to make ends meet, but it often isn’t enough. I want my children to have a better life, and ensuring they can attend school is a vital step toward that goal. Looking ahead, I see great potential for growth with the livestock. They will provide milk for my children and can be sold for school fees when needed. After losing all my previous animals to drought, I am filled with hope as I watch my new livestock multiply. This investment not only gives us food security but also a sense of pride and stability. I am determined to create a better future for my family, and with each passing day, I feel that dream becoming more attainable.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
18240 KES ($143 USD)
access_time 4 months ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was at home, tending to my goats, when I heard a message notification, but I was busy with the goats and didn't check it immediately. Later on, I checked and realized I had received $183. Overwhelmed with joy, I thanked God and called my husband, who was at work. He sounded happy over the phone and assured me that we could now fulfill our plans.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
After losing my kitchen and latrine due to the recent heavy rains accompanied by heavy winds, I was devastated and unsure of what to do next. Depending on casual jobs and with my husband working as a boda rider, repairing these essential structures seemed impossible. However, thanks to GiveDirectly's support, my washroom has already been fixed, and work on rebuilding the kitchen is in progress. I am really grateful to GiveDirectly for saving me stress and restoring my home again.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Following recent heavy rains accompanied by strong winds, my kitchen, washroom, and chicken house were all destroyed, leaving me without these essential structures. With my last transfer, I immediately purchased iron sheets and nails totaling $106 to repair the damage. Additionally, I sent $20 as pocket money to my son, who is in high school and had accrued debt during a school tour when he needed to borrow money due to my financial constraints. Water scarcity remains a significant challenge in our area, pushing me to spend $10 to refill our water tank. Furthermore, I spent $30 to purchase an additional goat. Goats have always been a reliable source of support during emergencies in our region, and for remembrance of my first transfer from GiveDirectly, I acquired this goat. The remaining $16 was allocated to purchasing essential food items. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for their support.
Enrolled
access_time 6 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
One week ago a violent wind blew off our kitchen, I am using open air to cook food for my family. I am planning to build another kitchen and this will cost me KES 15000 of my first transfers from GiveDirectly. We are required to raise KES 200,000 for my husband to receive his specialized treatment. I will set aside KES 70,000 for his treatment. I am now left to work hard and provide for the family, I intend to invest KES 20,000. I will start a kiosk in the village as it will help me earn money and support my family of eight.
What is the happiest part of your day?
We made the decision to try our luck into butternut farming in January. Butternut farming is lucrative but involves a lot of risk. Our biggest fear was making a loss, happily we had a bumper harvest and it earned us KES 120000 which was huge. We bought a 5000 liter plastic water tank which helped us harvest rain water.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
We used to live a happy life with my family until three months ago when everything took a different turn. My husband who is the sole breadwinner of the family had gone for a casual job to earn a living for the family. This turned out to be tragic, he was lifting a 90 kg bag of maize to a lorry when he felt a sharp pain on his back and paralyzed him. He was rushed to Marigat for medical attention where he was diagnosed with blood cloth in the vein. He was later referred to Eldoret for specialized treatment. He was required to have KES 250,000 for treatment. It is unfortunate that we were not able to raise that amount of money and we decided to come back home. I am now struggling financially to provide for my family and put food on the table. I am also feeling sad when I see my husband in pain and his health worsen each and every day.