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?
In the coming year, I plan to launch a goat-rearing project and a poultry project. To ensure that these projects are successfully initiated, I intend to use the proceeds from my farm.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The GiveDirectly program's engagement with the community during their compound meetings is particularly fascinating. They employ the local dialect to ensure that the program objectives are not only met but also well understood. From my perspective, there isn't anything that needs to be changed about this approach.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My husband runs a butchery in the town center and I am a farmer, and together we have been blessed with eight children. When I received my transfer, I made farming my top priority since it is our primary source of income, and it was also planting season. As a result, I spent $280 on planting maize and fencing my land. Following that, I paid $100 towards my children's school fees, and the remaining $70 was spent on food items. The timely assistance from GiveDirectly has had a significant impact on our standard of living, and we are extremely grateful since financial constraints had previously made all this impossible.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
18010 KES ($139 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
Receiving money from GiveDirectly gave me hope for a better tomorrow. When I was promised I'd receive my first transfer, I knew it would impact my life significantly. I vividly recall that moment, when I received my transfer. I was at home relaxing after a hard day in the sun. I heard my phone ring and upon checking, I realized it was cash from Segovia Technology. I was in disbelief. I recall checking the message thrice. I went ahead with informing my daughter, asking her to confirm the text. This has been the best news that AI has received in a long time. I'm so happy and grateful for the support from GiveDirectly.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The main change in my day-to-day life has been the ability to fence my land. It was challenging before the transfer of GiveDirectly due to financial limitations seeing we had other obligations such as paying school fees. I realized my dream of starting a mango farm will be feasible now. I'll always be grateful for the gift that's changed my life to have a seemingly bright future.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When we got promised we would receive money from GiveDirectly, we thought it would be the best investment we could make. My husband and I prioritized fencing our land. This would enable me to plant pawpaw and mangoes. We were confident in this venture of earning a living since we had that concept before but got restrained by finances. I'm a farmer whereas my husband works as a butcher. Despite our meager earnings, I also suffered a leg injury recently and was now reliant on my husband. We have eight children with four of them still schooling. As a result, we spent $70 on school and another $100 on fencing our property. The remainder of the cash went towards food. My husband and I are forever grateful for the kind gesture we received.
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
The only way to live comfortably in future is to be financially independent. When I got involved in an accident, I stopped going to the farm meaning I have no source of income as we speak. I want to start up a bee-keeping farming for commercial purposes. There is high demand for honey and also it's nature of independence from the owner makes me want to shift to it. I plan on venturing into the business using the transfers at a cost of KES 30,000 by purchasing fifteen beehives at KES 2000 each. From this I project on earning KES 75,000 per harvest which will help me sustain my family needs comfortably. The rest of the transfers I will use it to buy goats and chicken. I am glad because in the near future I will have a stable source of income when I invest into bee-keeping and livestock keeping.
What is the happiest part of your day?
We live in a semi- arid area and our land is very unproductive. We leased one acre piece of land from my neighbors in the month of April so as to plant maize. I harvested fifteen sacks in the month of October and this made me happy because my family has enough food for a year and I also sold the surplus and paid school fees for my son in secondary school.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Two months ago, I got involved in an accident and my leg got fractured. I am still under medication hence I am unable to do any work to earn a living. It is quite expensive to seek medication as I solely depend on my husband to cater to the family needs but I feel I am burdening him. I am looking forward to the day I will be back on my feet again so that I can give an helping hand in my husband's hotel business.
