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?
The moment I received the transfer, I was very happy. I decided to share the good news with my children and we started celebrating together because we knew our lives would totally change positively
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life that I can proudly mention is that I am now running a hotel business. I made this a priority because I have been jobless for all that time and I had a family that depended on the household requirements, school fees. I have really been struggling for all that long but all was in vain. Thanks to GiveDirectly for financial help since I can now take care of my family without straining like before.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent a larger part of my first transfer on starting a hotel business and selling some vegetables in the village. I later hired someone to prepare my farm since it was planting season. I then saved KES 10000 of the transfer for any emergency that I may encounter. With the remaining amount of money, I am using it buying sufficient foodstuffs for my family and some other household items like plastic chairs.
Enrolled
access_time 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My ambition has been to start a small business of selling food stuffs at our nearby town but due to lack of money, this dream has never materialized. Receiving this money means fulfilling my life desire since I already have the kiosk but I lack the capital. I opt to use utmost $100 as my initial capital and I have great hopes that, this venture will earn me a profit. On the other hand, I plan to buy an oxen to help me upscaling my farming because as of now, I am aging and I am not much productive in farming. The remaining amount will help me to pay school fees for my grand children and also to cater for other family basic needs.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I spend the better part of my day doing farm work because as at now I don't have other job to depend on. Considering my age, this work is exhaustive and I find myself tired and weak especially in the afternoon hours. It is only in the evening when I get ample time to relax and hence, it is the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My long relied activity has been subsistence farming but due to my age, I am limited to doing much of farm work something that has resulted to food insecurity to my household. This has forced me to depend on my 2 children who are doing casual jobs at Mombasa and their work is not reliable. Sometimes, I am compelled to skipping meals or borrowing from my neighbor and this has robbed away my joy.
