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 heard my phone ring at around 5:00 pm that. I was with some of. my children and grandchildren and I asked one of them to check what the message was saying and who it was from. They immediately broke into dance upon realizing that it as money from GiveDirectly. I sent for my hper who was not far from where we were at hat time and he went to withdraw the money on that same day.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I am now hopeful wit life more Tha I have ever been. The dairy cow that I bought will soon be Abe to be of great help to me since it is about to have its first calf. When it starts producing milk, it will mean that I will reduce the time that I take doing casual jobs since it will be a great source of income and the better option for that matter. I am optimistic that I will be able to get enough milk for local consumption and even get surplus for sale. This will make my life and that of my son better and more worth living. We feel so much lucky to be part of the beneficiaries in the program
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used KES 35000 to buy a dairy cow and another K red 12000 was used to buy iron sheets for my son. The remaining amount was used to buy food, clothes and other basic household needs that we did not have as at that time. The decision to buy a dairy cow was informed by the fact that we never had one for a long time having sold all of them while selling medication for my ailing husband who eventually passed on. I could not get enough money to buy the livestock since I entirely depended on casual work to earn a living. This was often too much for me to bear but I did not have an option but to do it there being no other soyrce of livelihood. I am extremely happy that GiveDirectly has changed my life and reduced the stress that I had.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means reduced worry levels on where to get income to buy my daily meals. I engage in casual jobs such as tilling people's farms as well as fetching firewood for sale. This kind of work is tedious and each day, I feel emotionally as well as physically drained. I will therefore use KES 35000 to buy a lactating dairy cow whose income from selling at least 4 liters of milk will guarantee KES160 daily for my upkeep. I will also use KES 30000 to build a two-roomed iron-roofed house. The one-roomed I currently live in makes me evade from hosting visitors around hence building an additional house will bring me dignity and satisfaction.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My last-born daughter separated from her spouse last year, which forced her to come back home with her two children. I was stressed up due to this, given that I have no reliable source of income to take care of the three of them. However, her spouse came back to his senses in May this year and he came home remorseful for his deeds and pleaded to have his family back. I was filled with joy since my prayer is to always see my daughter settle with her family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I was diagnosed with high blood pressure 2 years ago and this condition has taken a toll on me. Most times, I am forced to engage in tedious casual jobs even when sick, since I have no one taking care of my needs. This is the biggest challenge I face.
