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.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Since our farm uses irrigation, my plan is to plant tomatoes, possibly in joint cultivation with a villager because this work can be very demanding. Tomatoes have a fantastic return on investment, and I'm hoping to generate a good profit that will help me reach my goal of opening my own shop. This will assist me further become financially stable so that I can hire more people to work on my farms while I indulge in other activities.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
What I liked about Givedirectly was that they gave money to individual people in their households as opposed to giving a single sum to the entire village, when some people would have obviously missed out. I also liked that specific plans and information are kept private and that other villagers are not always informed of private matters or given access to information.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Termites have infested my home by boring into the framing and poles that were used to construct it, making them weak, hence making the house insecure day to day. In order to permanently ward off termites, I intend to renovate my home by switching out the wooden frames for metal ones. As a result, I spent around $170 on renovation-related supplies, including metal bars. Due to the high price of food right now, I also spent $160 on food for my family of five. I paid a farm laborer I hired $45 that they may dig some trenches in the farm for water irrigation.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
20000 KES ($150 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
While at the farm, I happened to overhear my neighbors discussing their recent receipt of cash transfers. As I was also expecting some funds, I paid close attention to their conversation. When I asked them about it, they informed me about the money they had received. However, my phone was off at the time, so I requested one of their spare phone batteries. Upon switching on my phone, I discovered that GiveDirectly had sent me money. This news filled me with happiness and gave me the assurance to accomplish my objectives. That evening, I shared the good news with my husband, and he was equally ecstatic.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The acquisition of goats has made the most significant difference in my life. This new development will allow me to save money that I previously spent on purchasing milk every day. Additionally, I now have enough food in the house, which has lifted a great burden off my shoulders. I am extremely grateful for the financial assistance that we received during our time of need.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My spouse and I make a living by working on other people's farms. Unfortunately, our income barely covers the basic necessities of our four children. However, when GiveDirectly came to our village and announced that we would be receiving unconditional cash transfers, we knew that our lives would drastically improve. With the extra funds, we decided to purchase three additional goats for milk and to have an emergency financial cushion by selling them. We spent $130 on the goats and used the rest of the money to buy food. I've always dreamed of owning more goats, but it was never possible until now. I am grateful for this opportunity.
Enrolled
access_time almost 2 years ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
We have had a sit down with my husband and though we have so many needs, there is the most urgent of all. We have always wanted to build a better house but we lack the means, the one we are staying in has been invested by mites, it is old and dilapidated and therefore making it uncomfortable to live in nor welcome guest whenever they visit. We intend to use $500 to construct a better house, an iron roofed house.The cash transfers from GiveDirectly will make us realize this dream that has eluded us for sometime now. We are moved beyond imagination, we never knew this will happen, we have always navigated life challenges and at no point in our lives have we been given such help.We will use the rest of the money to pay school fees and buy foodstuffs.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Recently, a church called AIC Maji Ndege sponsored one of my children, Purity, who is in grade 3. She was given school uniforms and during Christmas, they sent us $10 that we used to buy food, she is also given medical cover. The news of the sponsorship was greeted with joy and excitement by our household. We are eternally grateful to the church for holding our hand and making the dream of our girl valid, the sponsorship will see her through the primary and up to the secondary level until she attains the age of 22. Our daughter's heart is now full of dreams and encouraged to keep going. If we had all the wealth we would never be able to repay what the church did for us.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Life is full of uncertainties, we are faced with a myriad of challenges from food insecurity to school fees. We are blessed with 4 children, and 3 of them are in primary school. Providing them with school fees and school uniforms is an uphill task for us. We live from hand to mouth since we depend on casual jobs which are erratic and pay little just enough to buy foodstuff. Lately, the cost of living has shot up and made life difficult for us. Our only hope is our children, we want the best for them and therefore we struggle to make ends meet to provide for them and pay them school fees. The schools are due to open in a week's time and we have no money to pay their school fees. Our lives has largely been decided by fate, we have no idea what tomorrow holds for us.
