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?
My biggest challenge has been getting food every day. With this program from Give Directly, I can now be assured that me and my family of four children will get food. Receiving the transfers every month is good.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My health has not been good for two years now. I am under medication that is why my priority when I got this money was buying medicine. I used KES 500. I then sent KES 500 to my child in secondary school who needed a book. I also bought a bundle of maize flour and other foods at a cost of KES 1500. I saved the remaining KES 500 which I have been using sparingly.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($11 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I received the text message at around 10 am in the morning. I was sitting outside my house. I was thinking about what next I would take to take care of my family. I was also in pain due to the swelling jaw that I have. When I saw the message that I had received the money I became very happy and very jovial.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The money has helped me a lot. It has helped me in ensuring that my family has food to eat. With the condition I am in right now I am not able to go find for my family. With the money that was a great help to me. I am very thankful for that
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I received KSH 1200 from GiveDirectly. It has been a while now that I have not been able to go to work to go find something for myself and my family. I am sick and need money to be able to find good treatment at the hospital. I have a swollen jaw at the moment. When I received the cash I decide to spend the whole of it on buying food for my family. I decided so since we had no food at all in the house. I also decided that with my next transfer I will be able to go seek proper treatment so that I will get better and get back to work and find for my family food among other things.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have been unwell for a couple of years now. It started with a persistent tooth problem in 2019 that later progressed into a tumour in my upper jaw. I visited one of the big hospitals in the county but I couldn’t afford their medical services. I came back home feeling dejected. In my old age and with no one to support me, I have been sitting here hoping for a miracle. I feel alive knowing that I can finally afford to seek medication and get better.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning.With my condition, seeing a new day makes me happy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I have been unwell for a long time and have heavily depended on the sale of palm fruits on my farm for a living. That has not been the case recently as the number of fruits is shrinking each day. My son, who is the only hope for my family, does casual jobs in a nearby town and barely makes 200KES in a day, just enough to buy food. My wife tends to our farm and her efforts have gone unrewarded as our area is drought-stricken. All is a have left is hope that our financial hardships will come to an end someday.
