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?
On receiving the message and confirming that it was from GiveDirectly bearing the transfer news, I was very excited. It was around 6:00 pm and at that moment I was out to the shopping center where I had gone to pick up the maize flour and other household goods. I had to finish up the business I had and get back home without withdrawing to first inform my family members.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the construction of a new house that replaced the small one that I previously had been residing in with my family of five. Even though we have not moved in, I am glad that the construction is complete, and will soon be moving in with a new piece of furniture.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Before receiving the first transfer, I was living in a single house that was so small for my family of five. Being a priority, I had to start the construction of a new house as soon as I received the money. I am glad that after spending KES 20600 on buying 22 iron sheets and building poles, my house is now complete, and will soon be moving in after furnishing. I also obtain a heifer at KES 15000 to add to the existing dairy cow. This will enhance an increased production of milk in the future that will, in turn, help in paying school fees for my children who are still in school. With the remaining transfer, I spent KES 10000 on school fees for my two children currently in secondary school, and the remaining on settling the labor charges and obtaining foodstuff for my family.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My only cow died of East Coast Fever some few days ago. This was a big loss to us since we depend mainly on milk for food and the sale of any surpluses to gain some income. So, it has become tougher for me to sustain my family. In that regard, acquiring another lactating cow worth almost KES 50,000 is our priority once we receive this transfer. Thank you GiveDirectly and I am happy for the timely intervention to our rescue.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Starting up a small business of trading on vegetables in a nearby center has brought us joy over the past three months. There has been an increase in our income, supplementing gains our subsistence farming and improving our livelihood.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Sustaining my family of five is the biggest difficulty we are facing. The death of our only lactating cow and the destruction of our crops by harsh climatic conditions have contributed to this menace. In brief, we are almost always uncertain and worried about what and where to get some food.
