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 at home busy doing my household chores when I heard a celebration from the neighborhood. I was eager to know what was going on. I was informed that people had received their GiveDirectly transfer. My son took the phone and verified and I was told that I had received the transfer too. I felt very happy and thank the organization for fulfilling their promises of sending the transfer that would change our life for the better.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Restarting my livestock rearing after they had all died due to the drought conditions in our region is the biggest difference in my life. This will restore the happiness that I lost after all my livestock died. Furthermore, I will have something to rely on whenever I encounter financial challenges.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I had wished to restart livestock rearing an activity that I had been doing sometimes back. This is because most of my cows died due to the severe drought that struck our area for almost a year now. I am planning to spend KES 30,000 to purchase 10 goats. They are more likely to survive even during drought conditions. In addition, I used 3000 to purchase enough food for my family since there is also famine in our region. I am also planning to spend the remaining amount in constructing a decent shelter for my family since the one I have is very small. Despite it being small, I am sharing it with my co-wife where I lack personal privacy.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means boosting my children who have failed to get their certificates after completing their secondary education. This has forced them to stay idle at home because they could not advance their studies. I plan to spend the first transfer to clear the school fee arrears for my 2 children who completed their secondary education in the year 2016. This will enable them to secure even temporary jobs as they wait to advance their studies. On the other hand, I will spend the remaining amount to buy 10 goats to have a long-term investment project that I can depend on in the future.
What is the happiest part of your day?
When I am assured of getting a meal for my children usually gives me the feeling of happiness. The only time when I am assured of this is in the evening when I have to get a meal to share with my children before we sleep. Unlike in the morning and afternoon hours when getting food is not guaranteed. Hence, I consider the evening as the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The main economic activities in our area are charcoal burning and aloe vera extraction. These activities are very tough and their returns are very low such that they can not fully cater to our basic needs. This has affected even the education of my children since they cannot advance their studies due to lack of money. Hence, I consider financial instability as the biggest hardship that I have ever faced in my life.
