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?
My heart was filled with joy in the morning when I realized that GiveDirectly had finally deposited some money into my account. I knew that I would finally be able to fulfill all my hearts desires that I was not able to at my own cost.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I have made a step in my life from the day I received my first transfer. First, I was able to pay school fees for my children. Due to this, they will not miss their classes this year unless they are sick since they will never be sent back home to collect school fees. Also, I am now a proud owner of a dairy cow. I believe that it will be calving soon and my family will have enough milk for our consumption and sale. Also, I will be able to save the money I would otherwise use in buying milk.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received my first transfer, I spent part of it to buy a dairy cow worth KES 23000. I settled on this so that when it calves, I will be able to save the money I would otherwise use in buying milk. Also, I spent some amount to pay school fees for the whole year for my children. On the remaining amount, I bought two sacks of maize, some beans, rice and other household necessities to last my family for some time after buying a solar lamp on higher purchase terms.
Enrolled
access_time 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Buying one heifer @$200 that will multiply in future and produce milk for sale as well as for family consumption, spending $150 to clear school fees arrears for my son in high school, improving my family sanitation by building a pit latrine that will cost around $ 90 as well as cementing the floor of my house and buying household furniture is what receiving this money means to me.
What is the happiest part of your day?
After a long and tedious day working in people's farms so as to earn some income at the end of the day, coming back home to rest makes evening the happiest part of my day
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of sustainable source of income is the biggest hardship i face. I do menial jobs in people's farms and these jobs are not reliable since most people around prefer to work on their own farms due to lack of money to employ others. Whenever i manage to secure some work, i have to devide my wages amongst paying school fees for my son in secondary school and buying food for my family.
