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?
This year and in the future, I want to finish building a nice home. Just thinking about it makes me really happy. I'll sell extra farm produce and use the remaining transfer from GiveDirectly to finish the house. This project excites me because when it's done, I can focus on even bigger things later.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I like GiveDirectly because they give money without any conditions. They don't tell me what to do with it because everyone's needs are different. I'm happy with their programs and I don't have any suggestions for changes. I'm really thankful for what they do.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Recently, I got $450 from GiveDirectly. I used $140 for my farm. I grew maize and beans. Farming helps us have enough food and I sell extra to buy goats and cows. I used another $140 to buy iron sheets. I want to build a bigger home because our current one is small. I spent $60 to fence our home. Living in a rural area can be unsafe, so the fence helps protect us and our belongings. I used $70 to buy food for my family. We are four - my wife, mother, niece, and me.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
20000 KES ($131 USD)
access_time 12 months ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was on my way to the nearest Lorei center, feeling the weight of my financial struggles and the burden of providing for my expectant wife. As I walked, a sudden ping on my phone interrupted my thoughts. When I opened the message, disbelief washed over me as I stared at the receipt of $200 from GiveDirectly. My beans in the Lorei irrigation farm were suffering from a debilitating disease, and my desperate attempts to secure pesticides had been thwarted by my dire financial situation. With no steady job, I relied on irregular casual jobs to sustain my growing family. Without hesitation, I redirected my steps to the Lorei center, where I swiftly withdrew $100, purchased the much-needed pesticides rushed to the farm, and addressed the issues plaguing my crop. Returning home, I couldn't wait to surprise my wife, who had been enduring our challenges with unwavering support. The joy in her eyes mirrored my own, and together, we celebrated the unexpected turn of fortune. The generosity of GiveDirectly not only rescued our failing crops but also injected a renewed sense of hope and optimism into our lives.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Before the windfall of $200 from GiveDirectly, my life was characterized by a constant struggle against the weight of financial burdens. The challenges of providing for my expectant wife, coupled with the distressing condition of my ailing beans on the Lorei irrigation farm, seemed insurmountable. Each day brought a new wave of uncertainty, exacerbated by the constraints of irregular casual jobs that barely sustained my growing family. The $200 acted as a catalyst, breaking the cycle of desperation and offering a lifeline to a more secure and optimistic future. It shifted our narrative from one of perpetual challenges to a story of resilience, where the unexpected can be a source of renewal and transformation.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
With the blessing of $200 from GiveDirectly, I set out to change our fortunes. The sorry state of my infested beans pushed me into action. A portion of the money, $20, went into crucial pesticides. But that wasn't all. I took a bold step and rented three-quarters of a piece of land for $52. With $8 more, I bought herbicide to clear the weeds, and $5 went into purchasing maize seeds. My wife's merry-go-round women's group lent their support, joining hands to plant the maize. The decision was strategic; maize grows well in our current favorable weather. It's not just about fixing our food problem; it's a lifeline that might rescue us from the erratic earnings of my $4-per-day casual jobs. The surplus maize can provide us with income and a chance to invest in our future. I handed $80 to my wife, allowing us to purchase food. Before GiveDirectly's help, securing a meal was a daunting task. Thank you, GiveDirectly, for transforming our lives. Your generosity wasn't just about money; it was about sowing the seeds of hope and resilience in our lives, promising a brighter tomorrow for my growing family.
Enrolled
access_time 1 year ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
Receiving cash transfers means so much to us because it will help us transform our lives positively. We intend to use $100 of the first transfers to lease 1 hectare of land. This will enable us to plan for farming next year. We intend to use the remaining $100 to purchase household goods such as cooking fat and clothes. For the second transfer, we will farm the 1-hectare land by planting maize which will cost us about $300. For the remaining amount together with $450 of the third transfer we intend to fence our compound. This will enable us to do chicken raring. This will provide us with security and also the ability to do chicken farming without fear of getting eaten by wild animals. With this, we believe that our lives will change for the better.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Our happiness over the past 6 months came two months ago when we sold our green grams at about $300. This delighted us so much because it enabled us to build a pit latrine which we did not have.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
A lack of employment and a constant source of money has been my biggest challenge now and even in the past. This has forced us to depend on farming which is sometimes unpredictable because of droughts and lack of water for irrigation. This has led us to do casual work to cater to our needs which is very challenging. This has made life very difficult for us since we sometimes don't have money to purchase basic needs such as food.
