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.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent the whole of my transfer in buying food for my family. I am currently jobless as I have always depended on the farm to earn a living, which is not the case now. The drought has made it hard for me to work on the farm as we hardly harvest anything. Before the drought I grew vegetables on my farm and after harvesting I would sell it in the market. My wife has been a supportive in selling the vegetables in the market too. I now depend on my sons who work in town to feed us. Because of the harsh economic times, they sometimes cannot send us money and we have to sleep hungry. When I received my transfer, I bought food in bulk because of the lack of a coherent plan on how to get money. I bought 17 packets of maize flour at KSH 1700, 2kgs of sugar at KSH 200, Omena at 500, 2 loaves of bread at KSH 130, tea leaves at 70. I then spent the remaining amount to purchase water for our own home use. Water is a scarce commodity in our village, and we buy it from water vendors at very high prices.
4th Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am unemployed and I rely on livestock keeping and farming.Currently the drought has affected the animal feed as well as the farm produce.I am delighted to be one of the beneficiaries of this support program.Recently when I received my funds I used all the amount to settle my 6 children schoolfees.
3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I took KES 1400 and bought a bundle of maize flour, KES 100 on sugar, and saved KES 1500.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The help that GiveDirectly gives me is very important in my daily life. Through the transfers, I have been able to sort some of the challenges I face such as food insecurity.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent half of the money on food and I saved the other half. I bought 50 kg of maize. Maize farming is the main economic activity in this household. Due to lack of rainfall, we have not produced any this year. This forces us to buy food.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was very happy when I got the message that I had received Ksh.3000. I could now relax from the worry of putting food on the table.
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 get to have enough food for my family and they get to eat enough to fill their stomachs.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used to do casual jobs to make ends meet but thanks to Givedirectly I have been able to buy food worth Ksh.1500 and I saved the rest.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I foresee my garden vegetable project to prosper as soon as i receiving the transfers. I plan to purchase a water tank to harvest water during rain for irrigation. My wife has been struggling to fetch water far away because the nearby water channels dried up due to drought. She walks for a longer distance to get water for personal use and for the garden. The sales that we make from it serve us for a few days but presence of a water tank means huge produce and better income.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Morning is the happiest part of my day. At night I feel frightened I don't have an idea what might happen due to the threats that were directed to me during the land case. When I finally see a new day makes me happy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Three years ago my land was grabbed and sold by a corrupt person from the authority. I took the case to court but my effort ends up in vain, nothing happened till now. Because of my financial status and physical disability I wasn't able to pay a lawyer, no one wanted to extend help to me in return I was threatened. My two acres of land just
Lost like that, this issue saddens my heart have no one to report to, I am scared to lose my life.
