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?
It was 7 am and I was at home having woken up. My phone was on charging so I didn't hear it ringing. As I was still going on with my usual morning chores, my helper came to my house. He asked me if I had received any SMS and I told him I do not know. He went and checked my phone and that is when he broke the good news to me saying that I had received the KES 55000 that GiveDirectly had promised us. I was so happy on hearing this and we celebrated together giving thanks to God since he had also received the transfer. I then sat down later and I started planning how I was going to spend it
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference that the transfer has brought into my life is that life has changed for the better. I now have a calf that is going to help me in the future when it calves. I was also able to continue with the construction of the house that I had left pending for a while. I am thus glad because I am positive that I am going to finish the construction and I will no longer have to struggle with the hard work of mudding the house.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 23000 of my recent transfer on continuing with the building of the house that I had left pending for a while due to a lack of money. I decided to build the house which is made of timber planks on the walls and cemented on the floor because the one that I use to live in was made of mud. I have become old and I am no longer able to mud the house. Most of my children are no longer living around and hence there is no one to help me. Getting mud for mudding the house has also become a challenge since it is no longer easily available. One hence has to buy it. Other than that, I bought a calf at KES 13000 to add to the one cow that I had. I decided to buy it so that it can help me in the future when it matures and calves. I then paid off a debt of KES 4000 that I had borrowed from someone to use in cutting down trees for constructing the house. With the remaining transfer amount, I spent it on buying clothes, shoes, some blankets, and foodstuffs such as maize, sugar, etc for my consumption. I am thus grateful to GiveDirectly for their support.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Even though I am old, I have always strived to make ends meet through farming. I often sell farm produce such as bananas, eggs and chicken to earn income. It's through this, that I have been able to build a 2 bedroom timber walled house for my family of 2. Regrettably, I have not been able to complete it for I have depleted the finances I had accumulated. It is a sigh of relief now with Givedirectly's transfers, for I purpose to use KES 50000 towards this course. I will be delighted that my family will have a comfortable shelter to live in.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Farming is dependent on climatic changes. For the past 3 years, drought and hunger have been dominant in my area thence, directly affecting my farm output which my family of 2 solely depends on. I sowed maize in September 2021 on my 1-acre farm and fortunately, the farm is doing great. I am glad and look forward to a great harvest in March 2022.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
When I look at the incomplete house in my compound, I wish financial doors could open up to finish up the work started. Being a farmer, the farm produce is seasonal and it can be affected by pests, diseases and climatic changes, therefore, lowering its output. With this, my final income is directly affected thus I have almost nothing to save. This is why I have not been able to complete this house and it however pains me.
