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.
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2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($465 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
No new goals so far that I can mention but I am thankful for achieving one which was to purchase a new piece of land. The initial one was very small and unproductive therefore for all those years I have got poor yields. Having the new piece of land guarantees me of harvesting enough since I am even planning to practice large-scale farming.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly does a superb job by visiting all the needy households in my village. The enrolment process was also free and fair, no one was left out as long as they were the residents of the targeted village. The cash transfer has empowered has therefore powered us to own livestock, construct decent houses, and many more.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my second transfer on clearing a dept of KES 30000 for the piece of land I had initially purchased which I used to pay in installments. Later on, I bought four goats at a total of KES 14000 which I am now keeping in my compound. I have desired to own them for years but because of my financial hardship, I couldn't afford to acquire even one. With the remaining amount, I boosted my retail shop business which I have been operating in the village. It has been the only source of income that I depended on to fend for my seven family members. I was so worried that it was almost collapsing since we have been utilizing the capital and the little capital to cater to the household needs. I am happy that I am now getting good returns which have empowered me to settle all my bills in time.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($496 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I had already begun moving from household to household selling foodstuffs which have been my main source of income. It happened most of my customers were enrolled on the program. They asked me whether I had received a message from GiveDirectly concerning the first transfer. I realised my phone had been in silent mode since I had been busy. I curiously went through my messages and to my surprise, I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I felt happy since I could now boost my business of selling foodstuffs for higher profits.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that through the transfer, I was able to pay for a piece of land that I purchased for farming purposes. I always depend on subsistence farming as a source of food only that I did not have a bigger acreage. I planned to have a bigger farm which would ensure food security in my household. Having this whole acreage will be a huge boost to my farming. When it's all utilised, I am assured of getting an increased harvest and I will no longer be buying foodstuffs. The money that could have been used to buy food can be diverted to meet other important basic needs.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 15000 of my first transfer on buying a bicycle. I was spending a lot of money daily paying people for carrying water. There is a shortage of water that has forced us to buy and carry over long distances. To hire a person daily is a bit expensive thus having the bicycle will make it easier and cheaper to carry on my own. At least I will not be incurring the cost of paying people to carry the water. Apart from this, I also spent KES 25000 to pay for a piece of land I had acquired for farming. Having a bigger portion of arable land will ensure an increased harvest during the planting season. This will ensure that I have enough food for my family thus food security for my household. I spent the remaining amount to boost my small business of selling vegetables and sardines. I bought enough stock in which I am now earning an increased profit. I can effectively take care of my family's basic needs like food daily and paying school fees for my children with ease.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means achieving food security for my family. This has been my ambition for ages since subsistence farming is our main source of livelihood. However, this has not been achievable because my piece of land is small and less productive. Besides, it belongs to my late brother in law and I have to share it with other family members. My plan therefore, is to purchase 2 productive acres of land that will give me more produce, unlike the current state where I harvest food that lasts us for a month only. This will not only provide food but also give us a sense of belonging and boost our self esteem.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Being a mother and a business woman is quite energy draining. My day begins at 5: 00 a.m where I wake up to make chapati for sale as well as prepare my children for school. Since I do not have a premise , I hawk my snacks around the village and this goes up to lunch time. Once I am back home I engage in other household chores such as cooking, laundry and walking around 2 kilometers to search for water. This makes me long for evenings where I get to rest and refresh my mind.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The lack of a stable source of income has contributed greatly to financial instability which is my biggest hardship. Sometimes I make sales worth 100 shillings from my small business which consists of selling Chapati and groceries. Therefore I cannot account for my profit making it difficult to save. My husband is an equally state since he depends on casual jobs which are hard to come by. In most cases he supports us with food only because we take it on credit from the neighbouring shops. This means I have to cater for the rest of our family needs but I struggle alot.
