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 when I received the SMS indicating that I had received the lump sum amount from GiveDirectly. I could not believe my eyes and I was immediately filled with a lot of happiness, I felt a ray of hope in me because I knew all the things that I have always planned to do were going to be fulfilled. I gave thanks to God and GiveDirectly for this wonderful program that they thought of coming up with.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
This transfer has brought a great difference to my life and that of my family. Having bought a cow, I will take care of it and when it calves, I will get milk that my family can use for consumption and I will be able to sell part of it. With the money from the sales, I will be able to invest it in other important things. The maize that I have planted, will enable me to get food for my family. The few chickens too that I have started rearing will help me in the future when I get eggs and other chicken for sale. Thank you GiveDirectly for making this happen, may God continue blessing you so that you can help others too.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The money from GiveDirectly has helped me a lot. It has enabled me to buy a cow, some chickens that I want to rear, and maize seeds that I have planted. I was also able to buy a bag of maize that will act as food for my family. With this bag of maize, I will not worry about what they are going to eat for some time. I also bought a few household items, that is a bed, blankets and some furniture. I have always wanted a cow of my own because the ones that are there, are my fathers’. I have also always wanted to buy some items for my household but due to lack of money, I have not been able to. The little money that I have been getting from the casual jobs that I do, I have been using it to buy food and other basic needs for my children.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money will mean a road map to a financial freedom in my family. Since we don't have a stable source of income, we have been struggling to make ends meet in our household. I am a housewife and my husband is a casual labourer doing any manual work within and outside the village. Our intention therefore, is to buy a dairy cow of approximately Ksh 30,000 and the remaining cash, we will use to start a poultry farming. We will be able to sell milk and eggs. By doing this, we will be able to get some income and fend for my young family without much hustle.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Evening is the happiest part of my day. This is because I have an 8 month old child who needs total attention and I use the whole day doing household chores and attending to him (child). Reuniting with my husband in the evening brings a sigh of relieve. This is the free time I have to chat with my husband as I prepare supper for my family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Food insecurity has been the biggest hardship we have faced in life. Poor climatic condition (prolonged drought) has contributed to this. We are peasant farmers and the land under cultivation is only 0.2 acres where we have grown maize. Getting surplus production for sale has been impossible since we only harvest 2 bags of maize which cannot sustain us for a year. My future plan therefore, is to venture into a lucrative business such as poultry farming in which we will sell eggs and earn some income. This will be the stepping stone to achieving financial freedom and food insecurity will be something our my past.
