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 had left my phone charging the previous night when My son came in the morning to check it. He said that there was a message confirming that I have received some money from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy because I have never received such an amount of money before. I knew I would be able to purchase the heifers that I had planned when I was being enrolled. We planned and my son went to withdraw the money and we started spending it.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have purchased two heifers. This is because I had one dairy cow and sometimes I would buy milk, which was so costly for me. Currently, my cows now are three. When my two heifers reproduce I would be able to get enough milk and even sell the surplus to earn an income to meet other household items. I will be in a position to cut the daily cost that I always incur. Due to my old age, I no longer do much of the daily activities, sometimes I would get support from my children. I do small-scale farming whereby I plant maize and beans. This is majorly for consumption. Currently, I am so happy because GiveDirectly has changed my living standard. I will not depend on anyone to support me since I would have my source of income. I am so grateful for the support because this would have taken quite some time to happen.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 40,000 on purchasing two heifers. This is because I have one dairy cow and sometimes I would buy milk, which is so costly for me. This has given me hope in that when they reproduce in the next few months I will get enough milk for my family and I will sell the surplus to earn an income. I spent KES 8,000 on purchasing timbers. I am Planning on building a house when I receive the second transfer. The remaining money I spent on food and other household items that we lacked at that time.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am old and staying alone. My health is also failing me, I had a chest problem that has persisted for a long and it has rendered me inactive. I live in a mud-walled house and smearing it is a challenge as a result, it is so dilapidated and in a bad state. It worries me a lot. Now that this transfer is coming I intend to use KES 20000 to remove the mud wall and replace it with timber. I plan to use the remaining amount to buy a dairy cow. Receiving this money means I will be in a position to build a decent house for my family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I have my lastborn son who is working as a security officer in Nairobi. Recently he sent me KES 1000. I was overjoyed since I was able to buy the 20 kg of maize that I am still consuming.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am economically inactive due to old age and feeble health and so getting food to eat is a problem. I am not able to do casual work to get wages to buy the needed maize flour and therefore I eat poor meals when I am lucky to get one otherwise I survive most of the time on one meal in a day. This always distresses me a lot and I am miserable and hopeless in life because of my situation.
