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?
GiveDirectly is one organization that visited our village and lived up to their promise to eradicate poverty despite the little installments received that go a long way. That's what I feel they do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Lack of food is the biggest challenge that am facing because of the harsh climate changes. I have been working a charcoal burner and vendor which earns me on a good day a minimum of KES 350 for a bag. My challenge is transporting the charcoal from the place of production to ready market is costly. A trip in the market may cost as much as KES 100 one way to the closest market. Recently I spent my transfer of KES 1500 to repair my bicycle and save on the transport charges and used KES 1500 on food .
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($10 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was in my house relaxing while curving a cooking stick. This is an activity that I perform when I am free at home after completing the charcoal vending. I heard my phone ringing, an indication of a new message. I am uneducated so I could not understand it, I informed my colleagues to check my phone and interpret the messages for me. I was very happy when he informed me that I had received my transfer. I was very happy that I will be able to clear the debts at the shop where I had been taking foodstuffs on loan.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I am living happily I was able to clear the debts with the help of my transfer. I am no longer worried about it which has improved inner peace and has built trust with the shopkeeper. I am also confident that I will be able to repair my bicycle something that will improve my charcoal vending job since I will be able to transport the product more easily with less cost hence enjoy more profit.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a charcoal vendor a job that has been sustaining me for more than 3 years now. This job is very tiresome, time-consuming, and with low returns. Most of the time, I have been taking foodstuffs on loan. After receiving my transfer, I spent KES 600 to clear the debts at our nearby shops. Furthermore, I used the remaining amount to purchase enough food for myself. This is because the ongoing drought has affected my livelihood negatively, it is very hard to put food on the table. I intend to spend my next transfer on repairing my bicycle which has broken down for over 2 years now. Currently, I am forced to hire a motorbike to transport my charcoal to the market which is an extra cost. With the bicycle, I will be able to ferry them easily to the market. I am also planning to use the remaining amount to start poultry farming, this will be an alternative source of income to support my basic needs.
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have an old bicycle that I want to repair. It played a great role in my life, I used it to fetch water from a nearby pond, ferry my sacks of charcoal from where I make them or to Tsangatsini town during market days which is on Friday. Receiving this money means I will use 3,000 KES to repair my bicycle and be able to be more productive.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Two weeks ago I had three sacks of charcoal and a potential customer came to buy them at once and we even became business friends at times he calls me to check if I have any sacks of charcoal to come and buy them at times I call him and comes immediately to buy them this have brought me joy and happiness as I am assured that if I have charcoals someone is always ready to buy them.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I have no job and getting appropriate trees to burn charcoal is also difficult, the prolonged drought made my seven cows starve to death and I could not harvest anything as well. Putting food on the table is the biggest challenge for now.
