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?
In my opinion, giving us the transfers to improve our lives is what GiveDirectly has done well. We also have the freedom of spending the transfers in the best way to change our lives. Through the financial support, we have been able to meet our basic needs like food with ease. Our children are also comfortably in school because of the financial support from GiveDirectly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my most recent transfers on buying livestock which includes a goat at Ksh. 3000 and a chicken at KES 300. These are living assets that I can readily rely on to settle my financial needs. I am expecting them to multiply and increase in number. Since I do not have a source of income, owning this livestock is my financial security. I spent the remaining amount to buy food for my family. For the last few months, food has been a challenge for me. I solely depended on subsistence farming which did not do well due to inadequate rainfall in our region. I had to buy daily which is expensive and at times I had to stay without food. I thank GiveDirectly because I had enough food in my household after receiving the transfer.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($11 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was so happy to see that I had received money from GiveDirectly because before that we barely had any finances. I mostly rely on my husband who during most occasions would cut down firewood and burn charcoal. But unfortunately he became ill and it made us have great struggle when it came to making ends meet since he could not work anymore.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
My husband has been the breadwinner of our family for the longest time, but his health has deteriorated and has made it hard and barely possible for him to work, so this has put our family in a state of financial strain. Therefore receiving this money has really enabled me to also come in and provide for the family as my husband is ailing, which has been quite a huge relief because I have no idea where else I would have got help from.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After receiving the transfers, rather than putting them to use I decided that I will leave the KES 1,200 in my savings account as I waited for the next transfers that I will receive so that I would start my own business. I plan on opening a grocery store where I will sell different vegetables and fruits so that I would manage to earn myself a living. I am quite old and I mostly depended on subsistence farming but due to the change in climate and rise in temperature it barely rains anymore which has left me jobless and hungry on most occasions.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Apart from a charcoal business that we depend on currently for basic needs, my family used to highly depend on livestock which has all died because of the prolonged drought. The charcoal selling business is not as reliable as it used to be and now that we are approaching the rain season, it will be difficult to burn charcoal. I don't know who I will turn to because my sons who are casual laborers rarely come home. Receiving this money means that I will be able to provide for my husband and mother-in-law, and I'm also planning to buy some goats when we approach harvest season next year.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The last six months have been tough because of the drought season but I'm happy because I have managed to get to where we are.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
At my old age, I can't manage to walk for more than 30 kilometers to look for water. I have been left at the mercy of depending on my daughter in law who can only manage to get a 20 liters jerrican per day. I have not bathed for quite a while and now that the rains are back, I hope I will get enough water to bathe and clean my clothes.
