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?
I was at home doing house chores when my phone rang. When I checked, I realized I had received a transfer from GiveDirectly. Overwhelmed with joy, I immediately shared the news with my husband, who was also home at the time. He was just as happy as I was. We quickly sat down together to plan how best to use the funds. We knew this was the start of a better future for us, and we couldn’t be more grateful.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The most significant change in my life since receiving this transfer is how profoundly it has transformed our daily struggles. My business has flourished, and with its growth, I am confident that it will bring in more income for our family. In addition, we have been able to stock up on food, easing the constant worry of where tomorrow's meals would come from. Unlike before, when we barely managed to make ends meet, we now have the security of knowing we won’t have to scramble for food every day. This support has truly changed our lives for the better.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My husband is a farmer, and I sell fish to support our family. We have six children, four of whom are in primary school. When I received my most recent transfer, I decided to use part of it to strengthen my business. I invested $20 into my fish business to increase our earnings, and with the remaining funds, I bought household items like utensils and clothes worth $70. I also purchased foodstuff, including beans and maize, for $60. These purchases were essential for us, but the business boost was a priority because it’s our main source of income. Before receiving this transfer, I was unable to invest in my business due to financial difficulties. We were always struggling to make ends meet, and saving enough to grow the business seemed impossible. Now, with this support, I have been able to lift my business, provide for my family, and bring smiles to their faces. We are truly grateful for this assistance.
Enrolled
access_time 4 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
Receiving the cash transfers from Give Directly means so much to me since I believe it will propel me to a better future. I plan to use the first cash transfer to purchase food such as maize, beans and rice. I plan to use about KES 5000 of the transfers on this. I also plan to purchase clothes for my children using about 5000 of the cash transfers on this. With the remaining amount I intend to save for an emergency and to use when need arises. For the second cash transfer I intend to start farming tomatoes and other crops. Since we depend on irrigation to do farming I intend to use KES 45000 to purchase pipes and a generator. This will enable me to irrigate my farm effectively and produce various crops. This is important for me because I will have a source of money to support my family. For the third cash transfer I intend to build a single room for my children since the house we are living in is small and is not enough for my husband and 6 children. I'm really grateful for Givedirectly's consideration to enroll us in our village. Receiving these cash transfers will surely transform my life in ways I could never have imagined.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Over the past 6 months, my happiness has come from the rains we received recently over the past two months. I was very happy because of the rains since it enabled me to grow maize and vegetables which would enable me to provide for my family. The coming of the rains brought hope of a better tomorrow and joy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My biggest challenge currently is the lack of money. We depend solely on casual work and livestock which gives us little for us to sustain our daily lives. However, I have always sought to do farming but my biggest challenge has been getting enough money to do so. I see this as my biggest challenge because I'm unable to progress in life and I feel I'm stuck in my current state. I feel I can do better but I don't have the ability to do so because I lack the resources which makes my life very difficult. I'm unable to provide my children with all their needs which really stresses me.
