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 around 10 Am I was heading to work in town. When I heard a ring tone notification from my phone. I stopped to check out, I could not believe my eyes it was a message confirming that I have received money from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy and I knew from that point that my life will not remain the same. later that I inform my spouse and she was so happy and celebrated. I withdrew the money the same day and play with my family about how to spend it. I am so grateful because GiveDirectly has changed our living standards.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have purchased a piece of land. We live on a small piece of land. This was so small and we could not do any farming. I had always wished to purchase a piece of land but I did not have the money. I do casual jobs in the town near home but the money that I would get is so small. Due to the recurrent daily expenses, I was not able to save any money from my work. I could get a daily KES 200. this was for food and clothes. When I received the money from GiveDiectly I felt so happy and I fulfilled my dream. I have purchased a piece of land and currently do farming. I would be able to generate enough food for the family. I have fulfilled my dream and I wished to devote much of my time to farming and ensure that my family has enough food all the season. GiveDirectly has improved our living standard to be much better.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spend KES 30,000 to purchase a piece of land from my neighbor. This was one of my main priorities since we live on a small piece of land and could not do farming. Currently, I have a land and I do a horticulture family. I do plant vegetables and beans. I bought a motorbike by depositing KES 20,000 and the rest to be paid in installments. I will be paying KES 400 per day for one year and eight months. I bought a goat at KES 3,000. This is also the best installment since goats reproduce twice per year. I spent the rest of the money on food and clothes for my children.
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I intend to buy another piece of land. This is because I live on a very small plot, just one-tenth of an acre. It does not accommodate livestock farming, where I need to keep a dairy cow and some chicken. If I can increase the size of my land, I will reduce daily household expenses as I will not have to buy milk for consumption anymore. I will spend about KES 30,000 on buying land and then the rest of the money on buying heifers and a dairy cow.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In the last six months, I started keeping chicken. I buy them from the savings that I make after earning my daily wages, working as a waiter. Even though it is a slow process because I buy about two or three chickens per month, I sell eggs for about KES 50 per day already. I am happy to be able to avail myself of basic items such as soap, sugar and cooking fat in my household without relying on my salary alone.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest challenge is lack of income. I work as a waiter in a hotel where I earn about KES 100 per day. our daily household expenditure is about KES 250. This means that I cannot meet all our needs. I desire to buy a dairy cow, from which I can make about KES 200 from selling milk. This effort will supplement my salary in order to improve my life.
