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?
That day, I woke up and proceeded with my usual chores without checking my phone, as it was still charging. While I was cleaning, my husband called to tell me he had heard that people had received their GiveDirectly money. I quickly checked my phone and saw that I had received mine too! I was happy and immediately called my husband to share the good news. My first thought was to use the money to clear a debt we had been worried about.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
For about six months, the $400 debt we carried after our crops failed due to floods weighed heavily on us. My husband and I do casual jobs, and we tried to reduce the debt little by little with our small savings, leaving a balance of $100. The stress was overwhelming, knowing we still had balance. When I received my first transfer from GiveDirectly, it was a huge relief; we were able to clear our debt completely. Now, we finally have peace of mind and can focus on our needs, something that had no longer been a priority.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
We are crop farmers, and early this year, when the rains came, we didn’t have enough money for planting. We borrowed $400, hoping to get a good harvest from our acre of maize. Unfortunately, heavy floods destroyed all our crops, leaving us in debt. We managed to pay back $300 of the loan, leaving a balance of $100. When I received my first cash transfer, I immediately decided to clear the remaining debt. Additionally, my husband and I wanted to make an investment that would serve as both a reminder of GiveDirectly's help and a way to secure our future. So, we bought two goats with the remaining amount. These goats will supply us with milk, and as they multiply, we will sell, especially the males, and use the money to address arising needs. This way, we are building a sustainable source of income for the future. Thank you, GiveDirectly.
Enrolled
access_time 3 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
Once a farmer, always a farmer. Despite the challenges, I am truly elated by the favorable climate in Meisori, where crops thrive every three months. Even though flooding has been a major issue and my farm was once swallowed by the expanding Lake Baringo, I have never lost hope. I am determined to return to farming. This time, I plan to lease land on higher ground where flooding is rare but water is still available. I intend to spend $800 to sow tomatoes on a 1-acre plot. My goal is to generate income to support my family of four and regain my financial status. I will be immensely grateful for the chance to get back on my feet and provide for my loved ones once more.
What is the happiest part of your day?
This year has been truly bittersweet for my family of four. We have faced a mix of drought and flooding. While the heavy rains damaged our farm and ruined our tomato crop, I am grateful that the surrounding area has been vegetative enough for our goats to graze. Seeing them feed well brings a smile to my face. On those scorching hot days when casual jobs are nearly impossible to find and even the farms are not productive, it is a small comfort to know our goats are still thriving and my family has food. It has been a tough year, but those moments of relief help keep my spirits up.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Four months ago, I took a loan of $400 from a SACCO to buy tomato seedlings for my 2 acres of land. Unfortunately, flash floods hit my area and ruined the entire crop. This was our only source of income for my family of four and now, on top of losing the tomatoes, I am left with the burden of repaying a loan for a failed venture.It breaks my heart to see my family struggling. My husband Zirian, took up casual jobs to support the family. When he does not have work, we have to sell goats just to afford food. It is a tough situation, and I am not sure how to move forward.