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?
When I woke up one morning around 5am, I reached for my phone to switch on the flashlight, and that’s when I noticed a new message waiting for me. Out of curiosity, I opened it, and to my surprise, it was a cash transfer from GiveDirectly! I couldn’t believe it at first—my heart was pounding with excitement, and without wasting a second, I woke up my wife to share the good news. She was just as thrilled as I was, and from that moment on, there was no going back to sleep; we stayed up talking for hours, brainstorming how to invest the money into improving our farming ventures and finally achieve some of the dreams we had been holding off.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Receiving the money from GiveDirectly has truly given me peace of mind. Before, I was constantly searching for casual labor jobs, working hard just to make around $9 a week, and it was never enough for my family. But now, with the money, I’ve been able to grow and sell kales, earning up to $60 a week. This change has been life-changing. We have enough to meet our needs, and there is so much more love and harmony at home. I can even save $30 every week now, something I couldn’t even dream of before. It feels incredible to finally have stability and a sense of security for my family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received the unconditional cash transfer, I carefully planned how to use it for my family’s needs and future growth. First, I spent $50 on kale seedlings because I had already prepared the farm for planting vegetables. Kale is a good investment since it grows for a long time, and I’ve already started harvesting, which helps us sustain our income. I also bought a bag of maize for $30 to make sure we had enough food to be secure, so we don’t have to worry about our basic needs. I wanted my wife to feel valued and appreciated, so I encouraged her to use $32 from the transfer to buy new clothes. I also used $15 to buy two plastic chairs since we didn’t have proper seating, and we had been sitting on stones for too long. Now, we finally have something comfortable to sit on at home. Additionally, I used $20 to pay school fees for my sister-in-law, who had been sent home because we couldn’t afford it. I also spent $8 on deworming medicine for our goat, which needed urgent care. Finally, I used the remaining money to manage the kale farm, ensuring a healthier yield. This transfer has truly been a blessing, helping us meet immediate needs and invest in things that can improve our lives in the long run.
Enrolled
access_time 3 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
Since I'm not allowed culturally to live near my parents, I plan to purchase a piece of land. It will cost approximately $300. On this land, I will build a one-roomed house plus a small space for a shop attached to it. I have already purchased enough iron sheets and wood. This means I will only need nails, cement and the services of a carpenter. It will only require an additional $200. When I finally have my own home, I'll be comfortable and proud of myself. My wife will also run the shop business while at home. I'll buy her stock worth $200. The profits will help buy food or help purchase clothes for our child.
Farming does well here, especially due to the hot climate and availability of water for irrigation. This is an opportunity to make easy money. Will spend the rest of the transfer on farming. I will start small, that's doing vegetable farming.
What is the happiest part of your day?
We're a family of three, it's always a joy watching my child grow. When I'm able to provide for them and see them happy, it gives me more energy to live.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Culturally, only a last born son is allowed to build a house within the parents homestead. My father's land is now smaller due to expansion of Lake Baringo. We've only been left with a small space which our parents now reside. I was not allowed to build a better house due to culture. I reside with my wife here temporarily as I seek funds to purchase a place of my own. Lack of land to build, has affected my ability to give my family a better place to call home. We're also worried, since the rains have caused the Lake to move closer to our current home. I don't know where we'll go if it submerged our house.
