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?
Through the unconditional transfers that GiveDirectly is giving us, it does extremely well. With my first transfer, I bought some chicken which are growing big and soon I will sell them and use the money to buy more chicken and turn into a business. I now have a goat and this is a good sign of development in my life.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KSH 1000 from my second transfer to pay for my seven grandchildren who were home due to school fee arrears. During that time, their father did not have money to pay so that they would go back to school. My grandchildren are very passionate about their studies and after being sent home, they looked unhappy and stressed. I paid their school fees so that they would go back to school and continue their education. Besides paying the school fees, I spent KSH 1500 as a down payment for a goat. That would cost me KSH 3000. I have always wanted to own livestock and, having received the money; it presented an opportunity to fulfil of owning one. With the remaining KSH 500, I bought food. Because of the tough economic situations present, it is hard to get money to buy food and I end up surviving on one meal a day or even sleep hungry.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($11 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was resting in front of my house. I was from fetching water from the nearby water pan. While resting, I had my phone ring loudly. I checked it out and saw that I had received a text message. My grandson, who was nearby, read the message for me and explained that I had received my transfer. I was thrilled and started ululating since I did not expect to receive funds on that day, and this was a miracle for me. I went straight ahead and withdrew the money.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The transfer has made me take a first step towards owning the poultry project I have always dreamt of. I had initially given up that dream because of the tough economic conditions that I was going through. Now that I am receiving the transfer, I am optimistic that I will soon achieve it and that’s the biggest difference the money has made in my life.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
For the longest time in my life, I had a dream of owning a poultry project of my own. With the poultry project I will would become financially stable. When my husband died, I took care of the hard task of taking care of the children. Since then, I have worked on other people’s farms, burnt charcoal for sale and also fetched water for other people to earn a living. Another tragedy fell on me when my eldest daughter passed away and left her three children in my custody to care for them. I am paid KSH 1000 on working on a ¼ an acre farm weeding the crops. This may take up to seven days to complete the piece. With little I earn, I spend it on buying food and also paying school fees for my grandchildren. Due to all these struggles, I could not realize my dream of starting the poultry project. When I received my first transfer, I spent KSH 1000 to buy 4 chicken at KSH 250 each. I bought the chicken as a start to owning the poultry project I desired to have. Besides buying the chicken, I spent the remaining KSH 200 to pay exam fees for my two grandchildren.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am a 62 years old widow. With my old age, I am no longer economically active. I cannot fend for myself anymore because I am not as stronger as before. I also do not have any source of income. I only depend on my sons to provide for me. Sometimes, they are overwhelmed with their family needs thus leaving me stranded. I am planning to use the transfers of the first 4 months to buy a bed and a mattress. I currently use the traditional bed which leaves me with body aches every morning. I will be very happy once I aquire the bed and the mattress, this is because I will be having very decent sleeps. I will then be spending the rest of the transfers to cater for my basic and personal needs. I will be buying foodstuffs using this money. As much as my sons help me, I cannot fully depend on them. They also have their families to look after. They have children to take to school. At some point, my sons can fail so meet my needs. Receiving this money feels like a blessing to me. I will be able to meet my needs without depending on anybody.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening. I always like spending time with my grand children. I miss them the whole day. They go to school from morning to evening. My happiest moment is when they come back from school in the evening. They all tell me stories of how their day was.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The challenge I currently face is being overly dependent to my children. I am 62 years old. I am no longer strong to do farming in the farm. I also lack any kind of income. This forces me to depend fully depend on my children. Sometimes I feel like I am burden to them. This is because they also have their family obligations to meet.
