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?
At my farm in the Parkera irrigation scheme, I was finishing up my irrigation work as the sun was setting. It was getting late when I received a message informing me that GiveDirectly had sent me $180. I felt a wave of happiness and gratitude. My first thought was to stick to my plan and use the money to buy sheep, as I had originally intended. This support from GiveDirectly would help me achieve my goal and improve my farming efforts.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Since I started receiving money from GiveDirectly, the biggest change in my life has been the addition of two more sheep, bringing my total flock to five. I've always wanted to have more sheep because I believe they will help me when my children go to school. With more sheep, I hope to have the resources needed to pay their school fees without struggling. I am deeply grateful for GiveDirectly’s timely support. This assistance has made a significant difference in my life, and I will always remember their generosity.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received $180 from GiveDirectly, I was excited and knew I had to stick to my original plan, despite having many pressing issues. I allocated $105 to buy two sheep, increasing my flock from three to five. I chose to invest in sheep for their long-term benefits. With two young children, I want to ensure that I can cover their school fees in the future, and by letting the sheep multiply, I hope to secure a stable income to support their education without struggling.
I also set aside $35 to buy food for my children. At that time, we struggled with food since we had just returned from a camp after being displaced by floods. With this money, we could have enough food, which brought happiness to my family.
Additionally, my farm needed irrigation, so I used $15 for that purpose. I spent the remaining money on clothes for everyone in my family. Thanks to the support from GiveDirectly, I was able to address these immediate needs and make a meaningful investment in our future.
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What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
Receiving this money is a dream come true for me because it allows me to pursue three long-held aspirations: owning a cow, venturing into climate-smart agriculture, and improving my house. My top priority is acquiring a cow, which I can now achieve with the first transfer. Additionally, I've always wanted to implement climate-smart agriculture, but lacked the funds for essential equipment like a generator and pipes. With the second and third transfers, I will purchase a 100-meter roll of pipe and a generator to irrigate my one-acre farm. Achieving these goals gives me hope for a better life ahead.
What is the happiest part of your day?
At the beginning of this year, my compound lacked any chickens. This changed after I harvested butternuts from my half-acre farm, earning KES 19,300 from their sale. With this money, I built a chicken coop and purchased four chickens. Today, I am the proud owner of 34 chickens, and selling their eggs brings me joy as it helps meet my family's basic needs.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Financial constraints continue to be my greatest challenge. Owning a cow has always been a dream of mine, yet it remains out of reach. I have fenced my compound and the grass has grown tall. It's difficult to see my neighbors' cows grazing there, because I wish it were my own providing milk for my children. Despite these challenges, I hold onto hope that one day my dreams will be fulfilled.
