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?
I felt so happy the moment I received money from GiveDirectly. It came at around 6:00 pm and I could not be happier than I ever was at that time.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the investments that I made and the amount of happiness that has come with it. I had built the house to some extent but I did not have the power to bring it to completion.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used KES 30000 to buy a dairy cow. Dairy keeping is the main economic activity in our area. I used another KES 20000 to cement the floor of my house and the remaining amount was used to buy other basic household needs.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means food security for me . I used to do a grains business in a nearby town but as I grow older, I am retired to my small house where I rely on government social protection programs for food and daily needs. The cash that I receive from the program is irregularly issued, sometimes skipping several months before I get another payout. If I receive GiveDirectly transfers, I will buy food, mainly a bag of maize that will last me for about 4 months. I will also buy a dairy cow at about KES 40,000. From the cow's milk, I will get a continuous income that I will use to buy food and ensure that I do not stay hungry at any time in my life.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In the last six months, I have not seen anything to make me happy. Instead, I have had several instances where I have fallen sick, getting me worried and even putting a strain on my children in terms of raising the money that I use for my medical care.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship is food insecurity. In my old age, I am unable to work hard enough to feed myself daily. The money that I get from the government social security program is not enough. My children are also not in a position to feed me because they have their own families to take care of.
