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.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
For this year and the years to come, I plan to focus on farming. This will ensure my family has enough food and give me the opportunity to sell any surplus. With the extra income, I can cover important expenses like school fees. Thinking about this future fills me with joy, knowing my life will be better than it is now. I am deeply grateful to GiveDirectly for making these changes possible.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly has done an amazing job, and I truly appreciate their unconditional cash transfers and their straightforward approach. What stood out to me the most is how transparent and clear their process is. At the moment, I don’t have any specific recommendations because I haven’t noticed any flaws in their program.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Recently, I received $450 from GiveDirectly, and the first thing I did was use $150 to buy three sheep. I didn’t own any livestock before, but thanks to GiveDirectly, I am now a proud owner. This is a long-term investment that will provide my family with milk and income in the future. After securing the sheep, I used $130 to buy building materials, as I am planning to extend my house from one room to two rooms. This extension will give my family more space, offer us privacy, and restore a sense of dignity. Additionally, I spent $100 to buy a plot of land where I currently live. My goal is to use the next transfer from GiveDirectly to pay off the remaining balance so that I can become a landowner. The rest of the money was used to buy food for my family, ensuring we no longer have to struggle to meet our basic needs. I am incredibly happy for this support, and all I can say is thank you.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
20000 KES ($155 USD)
access_time 2 months ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was busy clearing my farm to plant beans when I heard the ding of a message on my phone. I paused my work to check it and, to my surprise, it was money from GiveDirectly. I hadn’t expected the funds to arrive so soon, and the message filled me with unexpected motivation. Energized by this news, I decided to put even more effort into clearing my farm, planning to hire help the next day to finish the preparation so I could plant immediately.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I have seen significant improvements in my life, and I am grateful to GiveDirectly for providing me with unconditional cash. I was able to make my own decisions on how to use the funds, and it truly helped me according to my plans. Nowadays, you will find me either at my farm or at home relaxing. Before, I was never at home because I was always out looking for casual jobs, with no food to bring back. Now, I am happy to have food readily available at home, and my beans are thriving on my farm. The GiveDirectly money has impressed me greatly because my life changed so much immediately after receiving it.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
In the five months before receiving the transfer, I rarely smiled. I often went hungry due to the stress of not having food at home, and the floods had destroyed my maize farm, which was almost ready for harvest. This was incredibly disheartening. However, when the money arrived, it brought me immense joy for the entire week. I used $90 to invest in agriculture, preparing the land, planting, and weeding my beans. I anticipate that when they ripen and are harvested, I will yield around 540 kg, which I plan to sell at $1 per kg. Additionally, I have struggled with the high cost of buying milk daily. To reduce these expenses, I allocated $40 to purchase a goat that is close to giving birth, so I can have milk at home instead of buying it from the shops. I mostly rely on casual jobs for food, so to focus on farming with peace of mind, I used $50 to ensure we have enough food at home. Finally, with the remaining $20, I bought clothes for my three children and my husband, who is also a charcoal burner. The floods had completely destroyed all our clothes, leaving us with only what we were wearing that day.
Enrolled
access_time 5 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
When the floods struck our village, Saruni, they took away our livelihood as farmers. Our 2-acre farm, which sustained our family of six, was severely affected. To make ends meet, we had to sell one of our goats to buy food for the household. Before the floods, we had a total of six goats, but two sadly perished in the disaster.Now, with a deep sense of determination to rebuild our farm and secure our future, I plan to use the $400 I will receive in transfers to purchase goats. Restocking our flock is essential for our sustainable income. Additionally, I intend to spend $300 in recultivating maize on our 2-acre plot to ensure we have food on the table.Furthermore, I will spend $200 towards constructing a granary to store our harvest safely. With the remainder of the funds, I aim to venture into poultry farming. This new venture will not only diversify our income but also provide additional revenue through the sale of eggs and surplus birds.These plans are essential for rebuilding our lives after the floods and ensuring a more stable future for my family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My son Emmanuel is the light of my life, bringing immense happiness to our family of six. The journey of carrying a pregnancy to term and safely delivering him was filled with gratitude and relief. Five months ago, our family welcomed this precious addition with open arms, cherishing every moment since his arrival. Seeing him grow and thrive each day fills my heart with joy beyond measure. Despite the challenges of pregnancy, the love and happiness he brings make every difficulty worthwhile. Emmanuel has truly enriched our lives, and we are thankful for the blessing of having him in our family
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am really struggling right now after the flash floods claimed our village, Saruni, and wiped out my entire maize crop. As a family of six depending on farming, this loss hits hard. With no maize to harvest, we are facing the prospect of buying food instead of producing our own. It is a daunting thought, especially since I do not have the finances to replant the crops or seek assistance from Kenya Seed now that the planting season is over.In the meantime, we are trying to diversify our income sources through charcoal burning and find temporary work opportunities to make ends meet. It is tough, but we are taking it one step at a time and hoping for a brighter future ahead.
