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?
It was around 6 AM when I was preparing myself for the daily hustles ten my phone started vibrating so loud. When I read the contents, I realized it was an Mpesa message from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy because I had finally received my first transfer.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Having my own piece of land has brought the biggest difference in my daily life. This is because previously, I have been leasing from friends which were very costly considering I had some other basic needs to cater to. Therefore, most of the time I could not afford to lease and that means at that particular season, I could not harvest anything. However, after receiving my first transfer buying the piece of land was my first priority. I am now a proud owner of the land and thus means I will be saving the money that I have been using in leasing other people's lands and meet some other family's basic needs.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my first transfer on buying a second-hand motorbike at KES 30000. I have been depending on the casual jobs for so many years and I was always paid on commission which was not enough for my family daily needs. I believe owning the motorbike will uplift my living standards. I then bought a piece of land at a total of KES 20000. I previously used to lease from my friends which were very expensive. I also bought some chicken as my living assets that I can depend on my just in case I have financial difficulties. The remaining amount of money, I used to buy some enough foodstuffs for my family.
Enrolled
access_time over 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Coming from a large family of 7 men, the ancestral land is becoming smaller as the family expands and one of my biggest concerns is lack of enough space for cultivation. I, therefore, intend to use my first transfers to purchase a piece of land, and that will be a dream come true. I will no longer have to purchase farm produce from neighbors as I will have enough space to grow my own. Additionally, I desire to venture into goat rearing business --accordingly, I will purchase 10 goats for a start and as they continue breeding, my financial stability will be strengthened, and that is what receiving this money means to me.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The nature of my work is laborious; as such, I always long for the evening so that I can rest. It is also a moment to spend quality time with my wife and that informs the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of employment opportunities has been the biggest hardship in my life. This has made me resort to charcoal burning, something that is hazardous to the environment as well as one's health. And because of its strenuous nature, it is not something that one can entirely depend on. This has resulted in a constant lack of basic needs like food, clothing and proper shelter for my household, a huge constrain to family 's progress.
