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 morning, I was at home doing my morning chores when I received a message. As always, my daughter picked up my phone to read the message because I'm illiterate and couldn't read it on my own. She told me that I had received the transfer and I we were both so happy as we didn't even have breakfast and we knew we were going to buy food not only for the day but enough for the month.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I previously didn't own goat something which I was not happy about for the longest time because it meant my household look like the poorest among the villagers. I wasn't proud of myself because I was looked down upon because of my state of poverty. Right now, I have a goat and some chicken and I'm so proud of myself.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Raising my children alone after my husband passed has not been an easy task but seeing them grow everyday and having a promising future is what keeps me going. I am a peasant farmer and previously, I used to depend on farm produce which has now become a nightmare due to the prevailing drought. Having one meal per day became our new norm because I cannot afford to provide three meals per day with the meager wages that I earn from fetching water and selling firewood. Although my major goal was to build a house for my family because the one that we live in is in a very poor condition, I have been wanting to start rearing livestock and poultry because I can sell them on bad days and pay bills. Being enrolled into the program was a good opportunity for me to chase my dreams as I spend KES 29000 of my first transfer to buy iron sheets and other building materials, KES 3000 to buy a goat and KES 1200 to buy chicken. I spend the balance to buy enough food for the month and settle debts that I had. I'm looking forward to spend my next transfer to build a house and buy more livestock and I will then have achieved my goals.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means good housing for me. I have been sharing a house with my livestock for 2 years now. Being unemployed, I have failed to build a house for my livestock. My husband who could support me in building the house died four years ago. Staying at the same place with livestock is very uncomfortable. The smell that comes from their room is unbearable. I intend to use 30,000 KES to build myself a new house leaving the other one to the livestock. Having a different house will also bring me dignity.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In August 2021, I received 10,000 KES as part of the dowry payment for my daughter who got married. I was very happy because I used the money to buy myself food and new clothes.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Food insecurity is the challenge I am currently facing. I have been a widow for four years now. I used to depend on my husband to provide for me. Since his passing, life has been very challenging. I have no source of a steady income due to lack of employment. Farming used to support me but due to the drought experienced in this area, there is no kind of agricultural activities taking place. Currently, my occupation is to make ropes that are used in making the traditional beds. The income I get is not dependable. In a month, I cannot make more than 1,000 KES. With this amount, I am unable to buy enough food for myself. In some cases, my daughter-in-law has to support me which saddens me.
