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.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Gh
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Before even getting enrolled to this program I always had the ambition of growing my farm through buying and rearing more farm animals. This was not possible at the time because I lacked the funds. But when I got introduced to GiveDirectly as saw as a chance to finally begin investing in buying more animals. Therefore when I received my recent transfers, I decided to buy a kid because the mature goats were quite expensive and not possible friendly so I could not afford one and that is why I opted for a baby goat. The owner sold me the kid for KES 2,000 and I was left with a balance of KES 1,000. Since they was barely enough food in my house and I could not rely on farming due to drought, I decided to purchase half a dozen packets of maize flour for KES 720 and then used the remaining balance of KES 280 to acquire sardines, sugar, bread and water since we were also experiencing scarcity.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($11 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I had just arrived in my house from fetching water from a nearby water pan. My phone rang out loudly. I checked it out and found out that I had received my first transfer. It thrilled me that finally I had received the money. I was getting worried that I would miss my next meals because I lacked money to buy food. I quickly headed straight to the Mpesa shop, withdrew the money and bought some food for myself
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The money has made a big difference in my life. I will now be able to fulfill my wish of owning livestock, which I had for the longest time. My children are grateful too in that they can focus and invest their hard earned money in other projects now that I will receive transfers to look after myself. I am happy that I will have something to keep me busy and take away the boredom.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I currently I do not have a job and depend fully on my sons and daughters who work in different jobs in a nearby town. Since my husband died, I am all alone at home and I feel lonely with nobody to talk to. While sitting outside my house, I thought of owning and rearing livestock so that I can something constructive to work on. When I received the money, I decide to buy some three chicken at KSH 300 each for a start. The chicken has kept me engaged as I have to look after them, therefore the boredom I used to experience before is no longer there. With the chicken, I will accrue some wealth when they multiply in numbers and I will not have to depend on my children to send me money. In addition, I spent the remaining amount of KSH 300 to buy food because my children had not sent me money to buy food.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I'm a subsistence farmer and so I would like to buy an ox drawn plough to boost my scale of operations and lower the cost. I own three acres of land which I use for maize production. Over the time I have been using commercial ones that are expensive on the long run hence exaggerating my input.
What is the happiest part of your day?
There haven't been much to be happy about since this year began but whenever I manage to get food, it feels good. I'm a farmer and since the onset of draught I had such a difficult time putting food on the table.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Last year through to this time has been mostly drought which has affected the availability of food and water. Initially, I used to depend on subsistence farming but under the current conditions, this is not possible. I have mostly been begging for money from my children to be able to get food and occasionally burn charcoal for sale.
