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 am very happy about this project which is being handled by GiveDirectly. I feel this project was brought just for me since it has greatly rescued me. It was around 8.30am when the transfer message bumped into my phone. At that moment, I was just figuring out how my day would go and how I was going to earn something for the day. I felt so happy and grateful. May this project prosper as GiveDirectly prospers!
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I am now living comfortable in a good spacious house than before when I was in a small congested house. As at now my basic needs are well catered for, I have a nice place to sleep and I get my daily food not as before when I relied on working in peoples’ shambas for me to get some food. The hardship I was passing through is now gone because GiveDirectly came through for me. I appreciated their support.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
For a while, I have been living in a small congested house. On receiving the money the first objective I thought of implementing was to increase the size of my house as well as placing an iron sheet roof. I bought 16 pieces of iron sheets for KES 14,080.00. Having been sleeping on a mat and a traditional bed which was very small for quite some time I saw it prudent for me to buy a standard bed and a mattress for KES 10,000.00. I also bought 2 goats for KES 8,000.00. My aim was to buy a cow but looking at how dry our area is, I offered to buy the goals because they can easily cope up with the climate compared to cows. As I stated earlier that our area is very dry I saved the rest of the money for food and water.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means food security. I have
2 acres piece of land and I do cultivate only 1 acre using the traditional method of using a hoe. I harvest only one bag of maize worthy 90kg. I use this for only two months. I want to buy two oxen and a yoke for agricultural activities. This will enable me cultivate all the two acres and harvest approximately four bags of maize which will take me around eight months. The oxen and the yoke will cost Ksh 59000. I will use the remaining amount to buy ten goats and one cow as investment.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiest Part of the day is in the morning when I am fresh from a sleep. I feel happy and good to go look for work. Unlike in the evening when I am so tied.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
When I lost my wife I felt so lonely and I thought God had forgotten me. It was untill I got used to the situation. That's the biggest hardship I faced in life.
