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 in the morning, still lying in bed, when I decided to check my phone. As I looked through my messages, I saw one from GiveDirectly, telling me that I had received $200. My heart filled with joy and excitement! I immediately shared the news with my husband, who was also thrilled.
The first thought that came to my mind was to use this money wisely and make it last. I thought about what we needed the most, and I quickly decided to buy livestock. This way, we could have something to rely on, especially during hard times, and it would help us provide food and income for the family.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life since I started receiving cash from GiveDirectly is that I now have a stable source of income and a sense of security that I didn’t have before. In the past, I relied heavily on crop farming, but after the floods displaced me, I lost that livelihood and faced serious challenges in providing for my family. Moving to this new area felt uncertain at first, as it’s not suitable for crops. But with the support from GiveDirectly, I’ve been able to adapt by investing in livestock, specifically goats, which thrive here.
Owning goats has brought consistency to my income, something I couldn’t achieve before. This support has given me the resources to plan for my family’s needs, including my child’s education, and it has relieved a lot of stress. Now, I feel more in control of our future, and I’m confident that I can continue to provide for my family in a sustainable way.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon receiving $200 from GiveDirectly, I used $160 to buy three goats. The reason for this is that goats do very well in the area where I now live. I used to be a crop farmer, but after being displaced by floods, I had to move to a new location that doesn’t support crop farming. However, this place is ideal for keeping livestock, and by buying these goats, I can ensure that the support I receive will provide a sustainable and consistent income for my family.
With the remaining $30, I paid school fees for my child. This allowed him to sit for his end-of-term exams without stress, and now I can start the next term without any outstanding balances. This support has truly helped me provide for both my family’s future and my child’s education.
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access_time 3 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
The transfer has come at a good time, we are happy. Plan to spend the first $200 to buy food, chairs, bed, bedding and other household items. It will improve the outlook and comfort in our home.
Since we cannot do farming now due to lack of land submerged by Lake Baringo. We look forward to starting a shop business, selling groceries and other food necessities. I plan to invest $200 into the business. The profits will assist us buy food and also save some money.
Goats do well here, we want to replenish our stock. We'll spend about $300 to buy five more goats. They'll help fasten the expansion of our stock. Goats fetch good prices especially during festivities like the Christmas period.
Farming has been the backbone of our family. We plan to set aside the remainder of the transfer for farming. We hope to return to our farm when the Lake subsides. If it doesn't, we can seek alternative land for hire in the neighbouring villages.
What is the happiest part of your day?
We have about twenty goats, five sheep and ten chickens. They can be sold to provide us with extra income during difficult times. The chicken also lays eggs which have a ready market. This has been the main source of happiness for our family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Farming has been the main source of income for our household. Three months ago, the rains were heavy in the highlands. It led to the expansion of Lake Baringo, the Lake submerged our one acre of tomatoes. We were almost harvesting, this led to big losses to our household. We lost capital plus land to plant more crops. It has made our lives difficult. My husband now does a motorcycle taxi business or sometimes casual jobs just to support our family.
