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?
I was very happy when I received a message from GiveDirectly that confirmed the receipt of my first transfer. It was around 6:00 am when I received the message that I instantly showed my children at home. They were very excited since I had informed them of the plans that we had to accomplish with the money. I collected the entire amount the following day from the nearby shopping center.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the experience of a new life after buying a lactating cow that has provided my family with enough milk in the past few weeks. I am grateful for the support and am currently relieved of the high cost of living I was meeting before bringing in the dairy cow.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I had been buying milk for my family of eight for the past three years and on receiving my first transfer; I spent KES 35000 on buying a lactating dairy cow. We are now enjoying a plentiful supply of milk and no longer buying from the neighborhood. I also purchased enough foodstuff that we are still using at KES 70000. I spent part of the remaining on farm operations and the purchase of farm inputs worth KES 4200. In addition, I spent KES 7500 on a new piece of furniture and the remaining amount on settling the medical bill for my father, who was not feeling well.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I desire to buy a cow because the only one that I had died of East Coast Fever last year in November. This left me with a huge expense of having to buy milk every morning especially for my young grandchildren. I spend KES 120 to buy 3 liters of milk which is still not sufficient. I entirely depend on menial jobs such as smearing people's houses to put food on the table for my family. I earn KES 200 per day when I am lucky to be called for a job. This makes it an impossibility to buy another cow and I continue to suffer with no one to express my frustrations to. I intend to use KES 35,000 to buy a dairy cow that will produce at least 5liters of milk daily. Receiving this money will put an end to the frustrations of having to buy milk every day and also make me afford a smile.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I have been connected to electricity thanks to a project that is being funded by the world bank in this village. This is the only good thing that is bringing happiness to my heart
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Food insecurity has been a trending matter that I have been trying to find a solution to. I cannot afford 3 meals a day and the trick is to skip lunch so that we can have sufficient food for supper. My husband is 89years of age and his cognitive abilities have been declining leaving me as a sole bread winner. I am casual laborer doing menial jobs like smearing people's houses to make ends meet. I get paid KES 200 to smear one house and I feel like the work is not commensurate to the amount. I am being exploited because I have no otherwise. Doing food budget with KES 200 defeats me because prices of food have gone up
