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.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was on a Wednesday morning when I received a message from GiveDirectly and in checking it up, it was the confirmation of the receipt of the first transfer. I was filled with joy and at that moment I was also sure that the projects I had been planning were going to start that soon. I had to make withdrawal plans on the same day, and with my mum, we celebrated both our transfers and thanked God for the generous support from GiveDirectly.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the income generation investment on a motorcycle. It has been feeding not only me in my household but also my wife and a young kid back at her parents' home. They had been appreciative to GiveDirectly as well since this has changed a lot in our household that we never expected. Saving more than KES 250 per day is such amazing progress I am seeing in our household. All credit goes to GiveDirectly for the great support.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Living alone in my household after my wife went back to their parents had been so devastating that all plans I had been trying have never been successful. The partnership we had before was so great that everything we used to plan together would always bear fruits. On receiving the first transfer, I had to consult her as her parents took her back to school and promised that she will come back once she's done or when I can see her through her schooling with the payment of her fees. We agreed to invest in some income-generating projects and the other part of it to improve our household. With the first KES 20000 out of the total amount, I deposited to obtain a motorcycle on a hire purchase basis. Since then I had been paying KES372 per day and this will continue for the next one and a half years. I am glad that the process had been so easy in that, even though I have to settle the daily installment, I am still able to save at least KES 500 a day. I also purchased household furniture at KES7000, new bedding at KES 8700, new pairs of clothes at KES 4000, and also secured a potential milk-producing heifer at KES8000. I am grateful to GiveDirectly to this far and hopeful that the second transfer will still do a lot for my family.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means a better housing for me. Currently I am living in a single grass-thatched house, it has a leaking roof which makes my life difficult when it rains. My prayer has been to build a 3 bedroom iron sheet roofed house but have never managed since I do not have income. I will spend KES 50,000 to build a house, buy a Daily cow Worth KES 35,000 as an investment. The remaining amount I will use it to buy beddings and foodstuffs for myself.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Evening is the happiest part of my day, After the daily struggle and looking for casual jobs around the village, I get a chance to rest in the evening while planning for the next day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Hunger is the biggest challenge I have faced in life. This is because Rainfall pattern has changed so much in the last 10 years. The drought and crop diseases have been on rise in the area. This has affected crop production and distribution in our families. I live on one meal a day, Getting this meal a day is a great struggle, for the past years I used to havest 20 bag's of maize from my 2 acres but the last 3 year's I have not havest even a bag of maize hence making my life difficult.
