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 GiveDirectly is doing more than enough by giving me the unconditional cash transfer.I appreciate their good work and I wouldn't want them to do anything differently.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Food insecurity is the main challenge am currently facing .My first transfer was all spent in buying food for me and my family.My recent transfer was all used to pay a loan had borrowed from a friend in order for my son to be at school. The school wanted him to pay KES 5200 and due to financial constraints I borrowed and paid the KES 3000.I am hoping to clear the remaining balance as soon as I get the next transfer.
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?
It was in the afternoon and I was just resting in the house. I was very hungry since I had not eaten any food except the previous supper. Surprisingly, I saw one of sons entering the house with a jovial face. Before I asked him what was going on, he broke to me good news that he overhead neighbours saying that they had received their transfers. I hurriedly checked my phone, and what a good news? I felt super excited to receive the cash. Since I had no food, I never wasted any time, but quickly prepared myself and went to buy food stuffs from the nearby market.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Prior to the transfer, it was always unpredictable when I could have meals on the table. However, currently I have been able to have sufficient food for my family. This has to a great extent improved my health condition as a result I am nowadays stronger than before. I can therefore engage in casual jobs in order to get an additional earning.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
For a couple of months, my family and I had been surviving from hands to mouth. The prolonged drought destroyed our crops thus my family had little food to depend on before the upcoming season. When I received my first transfer, I considered buying additional food stuffs since I had no adequate food. From then, we have not missed any meal on any single day as a family. Consequently, I have been having strength to make and sell charcoal in order to supplement my household needs.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Food security in my household is generally what receiving this money means to me. Currently, I work as a subsistence farmer which majorly depends on rains but this is no longer reliable due to the harsh weather conditions. This has forced me to depend on my son who is doing casual jobs of construction at Mombasa and the much he can support me is 1600 KES per month. This is not enough to fully cater to my family's needs and sometimes we skip meals. The cash grant from GiveDirectly will be a great relief to me since I will be able to get enough food for my family. On the other hand, it will also support my son's education who is now in form one.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Despite the food insecurity challenge in my life, I am so grateful to my son who has never failed to send me some cash (1600 KES) every week. Although this is not enough to fully cater to my family's basic needs, I have always been positive for a bright day. Hence, this is what has brought joy to my life.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Food insecurity is what I am currently facing in my life. This is because the harsh weather has forced me to remain at home and this means I am no longer productive in the farm. My hope has been on my son's casual work in the construction sites that earns him utmost 4000 KES per week. This is what he shares with me (1600 KES) so that I buy food for my family.
