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?
Give Directly has done extremely well helping us through the unconditional transfers. I have faced a lot of challenges because I do not earn much from my job. I am happy that using the funds I bought food that I struggled to buy. I would like the organization to improve on the timely disbursement of the transfers. I fully depend on the transfers a delay means I am unable to buy essential commodities and pay my bills.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
For the past 10 years, I have been raising livestock to earn a living. Before the drought, I would get more than 10 liters of milk from the cows, sell and earn some money from it. The situation has since changed due to the prolonged effects of the drought and I no longer harvest any milk from the cows. Because of this, I have struggled a lot in providing essential basic needs for myself such as food and buying clothes. The situation has worsened to a point where I go more than 2 days without eating food. It is for this reason that I spent KES 1300 to buy some stock of food that would last me for two weeks. Besides buying food, I spent the rest of the money on buying 3 chickens for rearing. As a start towards creating wealth, the chicken will serve the purpose right. Once they multiply in numbers, I will use the money after selling some in solving problems that I will have in the future.
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 always wake up early in the morning to take the livestock into the field for grazing. At around 9 in the morning, while still in the field, I received a text message on my phone. Since I cannot read and write, I waited until when I was back at home for my grandson to read. I got home at around 1 pm and upon arrival I heard my relatives celebrating receiving their funds. I called my grandchild, who read the message and confirmed that I had received the money. Together with him, we headed for the Mpesa shop, where we withdrew the money and bought food.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Since receiving the money, there has been a big difference in my life. Together with my family, we never skipped meals. Having the regular meals transformed the happiness in my family into another level. I am close to my family members and we interact often unlike before, where there was a limited interaction in the family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My primary job is rearing livestock. Before the drought, I would get plenty of milk from the cows. The milk i got would be enough for my consumption and also for sale. Now that the effects of the drought are severe, I have lost a big number of livestock and I no longer get any milk. This has proved challenging for me to provide for my family. When I received my transfer to KSH 1200, I spent it all on buying food for my family. I no longer get paid for rearing livestock from other people. I own the little number of goats and cows that I currently have as the rest of other people died because of the effects of drought. With no milk and no pay from rearing the livestock, I struggle to feed my family.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
As the days go by, my health deteriorates, so does my strength. I am afraid I might not be able to work in the future and I will still require an income to take care of my needs. To avoid becoming a burden to my children, I plan a to purchase a motorcycle for hire. This has been my intention for many years and these transfers will facilitate the process.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Since the death of my wife, I am a very lonely man. This has made me appreciate evey moment that I spend with my neighbours. I enjoy their company every evening after tending to my livestock.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Livestock keeping is my major source of income. With the current drought, milk production is so low that I cannot fully depend on it. On a good day, I make only 200 KES from the sale of milk. Such an amount poses a challenge when it comes to the provision of my needs. It's a norm for me to go without food and even lack funds for medication whenever I fall sick. Were it not for my son who comes to my rescue, I would have starved long ago.
