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?
As I returned home from fencing my farm, I unlocked my phone, which I had left charging, and saw that I had received money from GiveDirectly. I felt a surge of happiness and immediately told my wife. She was thrilled and knew that we would be able to fulfill the plans we had. Thank you, GiveDirectly, for keeping your promise.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
For the longest time, I had wanted a sofa but could never afford one. I admired sofas in other people’s homes, but my priorities and income never allowed me to save up for one. Now, I finally have it. During the day, when I’m tired, I can comfortably lie on my sofa. I still can’t believe I have it. Thank you, GiveDirectly!
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I bought a three-seater sofa for $58, something we had never owned before. Seeing a sofa in our home felt like a miracle, as it was something we usually saw in other homes. To ensure we had enough sitting arrangements, I also bought three plastic chairs for $23. For my wife and me, I purchased a bed and mattress for $80. Previously, we had a tiny bed that forced us to communicate every time we wanted to change sides, making our sleep uncomfortable. We gave our old bed to our children, and now our sleeping arrangement is much more comfortable. Food is essential, yet obtaining it is challenging. We rely on crop farming and sometimes charcoal production, which is unreliable due to water shortages in the dry season and floods during the rainy season affecting crops and difficulties in obtaining logs for charcoal production. To ensure we had enough food for our family of eight, I used $32 to buy essential food items. This purchase relieved us from the stress of worrying about food for a while.
Enrolled
access_time 4 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
To address the food shortage issue for my family, I plan to allocate KES 20,000 towards purchasing food and replacing household items lost to the floods, such as utensils, bedding, and clothing. Additionally, I will reserve some funds to buy maize seeds for replanting on our flooded farm.
I intend to use KES 45,000 to build a house for my family of 7, providing them with shelter from the rain, which currently affects them. Furthermore, to establish a sustainable income source, I will invest another KES 45,000 in purchasing 9 goats. These goats will not only provide milk for our household but also serve as a potential source of revenue in times of need.
What is the happiest part of your day?
During the floods, my children faced difficulties accessing their school. They had to stay with a relative for almost a month. Being separated from them was extremely difficult for me. I'm relieved that the floods have subsided and now the children can safely cross to school without any obstacles or needing assistance.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I planted 1.5 acres of maize, but it was swept away by recent floods. Since then, I have been unable to resume farming due to financial constraints. Farming was crucial for providing food, but now we rely on charcoal burning, which only brings in about KES 300 daily which is insufficient in covering our basic needs like food and other essential items.
Moreover, our house was destroyed by the floods, I currently lack the funds to rebuild a house for my family of seven. This poses a significant challenge, especially during rainfall seasons.
