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 saw the message notification early in the morning. My trustee helped me and confirmed to me that I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I felt happy and thanked them for helping financially.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I had acquired a piece of land which I am planning to do farming. I have been leasing this land from a neighbour which I was paying him money every planting season. I have been paying in bits since I couldn't manage to pay in lumpsum. When I received the money, I spent a larger portion of the money to pay for this piece. I am happy that owning this plot will enable me to my farming without incurring any expenses unlike before. To me, owning this plot of land makes the biggest difference in my daily life.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My daughter had completed her primary education and was transiting to Highschool. Thus this money helped me to cover for the expenses for her reporting in school. I spent a larger portion of it to do a shopping for her on the requirements and also paid KES 10000 for her school fees. She is now comfortably continuing with her studies. I was also facing problem on where to do my farming effectively since I has leased land from a neighbour. I was paying for it every planting season. My aim was to buy this piece of land to avoid these expenses I was incurring. I thus took the remaining amount to pay for this land to do my farming effectively. Owning this land is my priority.
Enrolled
access_time over 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means a better education for my children. I've two children who are in primary school and one who is awaiting to join secondary. Despite having an admission letter to enroll in school, getting the required school fees for her has been a real challenge. Therefore, I intend to spend the first transfers is securing her educational needs and that of her siblings. I will also invest in goat rearing business to complement any lack that might arise in future as they continue to further their studies.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Morning is the happiest part of my day. Waking up in good health gives me hope for a better tomorrow. As a farmer most of my morning hours are spent in the farm, and it gives me joy to fulfill my duties despite the numerous challenges. Working on the farm keeps me occupied, and that captivates me a lot.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of adequate finances has been the biggest hardship in life. I depend on subsistence farming particularly maize and cassava. With the adverse effects of the prolonged dry season on our crops every year, it has not been easy to get substantial yields. And as a result, financial constraint has been the order of the day. Accordingly, I haven't been able to adequately meet my children's educational needs. For the case of my daughter who was supposed to join form one at the beginning of this year -it breaks my heart as a parent to see her unable to proceed to the next level of education due to lack of adequate finances. Food insecurity has also been another resultant factor. In most instances, I'm forced to purchase food from the outside market, and that has continued to eat deep into our already empty pockets.
