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 village, families were living in extreme poverty and affording a decent meal or even putting children through school was a challenge. Now, with these funds from give directly, we are able to have 3meals a day, many have started businesses and children are attending school with so much ease. In Other words, there is great economic growth in the village. Give directly has done well and there is no area of improvement.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a father of two, a 3-year-old and a 3-month-old. Ever since I closed down my shop that specialized in selling secondhand shoes and clothes in 2018 due to the losses I incurred, I have been working as a handyman at a construction site where I earn around KES500 per day worked. This is way too low than what I used to make in my store where I earned between KES1500 and KES3000 daily. Providing for my family has been a challenge. So, when I received the first transfer of KES1200, I bought 5 chickens at KES1000, and the remaining amount I used on meals. As for my second transfer, since I am planning to take a loan that will aid in reviving my business, I saved KES2000 in the Chama. The remaining KES1000 I spent on food purchases to ensure that my family always has a meal.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($11 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
Previously, life had been a little bit hard and unfavourable to me since I have not been having any reliable source of income. This situation has always deprived me an opportunity to start up some of promising ventures such as poultry project. I cannot forget the day GiveDirectly sent my first transfer. I was just resting at home since I had nothing to engage in. When I saw the Mpesa message I felt overwhelmed with joy. Without a second thought, I went to a neighbouring friend who was selling off his chicks to buy the much I could with GD transfer. That day is a memorable day in my life.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Before I began receiving the transfer, I had a feeling that my life was stagnated since I had no single livestock despite the fact that I was always desiring to do so. Currently I own 5 chicks who are growing up well. From the chicks I look forward to begin raising livestock such as goats and sheep. My life will no longer be the same. Thanks to GiveDirectly for its act kindness.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
For several years I had been desiring to start up a poultry project at home. However, due financial constraints, this has not been a reality despite the fact that it is a very lucrative project in my area. When I received my first transfer from GiveDirectly, I strongly believed that the time was ripe for me to venture into poultry project. Without hesitation, I used KES 1000 out of the KES 1200 to buy 5 chicks to help me start up my dream project. Thanks to GiveDirectly.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money from GiveDirectly means I'll be able to revive my kiosk which used to help my family a lot. However, the harsh economic conditions attributed to by the Covid 19 pandemic in early 2020 led to a premature closure of my business because I ended up using the capital to sustain my family. I was later forced to close the shop even though is served as the sole source of income for my family. Life was good then because we used to get meals from morning to evening at the same time able to pay for my children school fees plus save some money. After all, I used to make good profits. I'm planning to use 50,000 Kenyan shillings to revive the shop. This will assure me of handsome profits and definitely I will get back to where I used to be. The profits from the shop will be able to help me attend to my family's basic necessities of life such as food and clothing.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Last month, my lovely wife gave birth to our second born; a baby boy. I named him after my father and this really made me happy. It was always my desire to get a baby boy. I always struggle to make his life better irregardless of the challenges I am facing in my life.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The closure of my kiosk was the beginning of misery and suffering in my family. Food insecurity is now a norm because affording the normal three meals a day has been almost impossible. I currently don't have any reliable source of income that can assure me money to sustain my family of four with enough food. Seeing my children sleep without eating anything is becoming unbearable. Sometimes I am forced to get home late to find them asleep so that I don't feel the pain of them asking for food from their mother.
