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?
It was 7 am and I was at home having breakfast with my grandchildren when suddenly I heard my phone ringing hence notifying me of a new SMS. I took my phone and gave it to one of them to check for me what it was all about since I do not know how to read. She checked it and reported to me that I had received the promised transfer of KES 55000 from GiveDirectly. I was so happy on hearing this and I thanked God for the blessing. I know knew that I was going to fulfill my plan of buying a cow.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The transfer has brought a big difference in my daily life. This is because I managed to buy a cow of my own and hence I was able to fulfill my wish. The cow is yet to calve but when it does, it is going to be of great help to me since I can sell some of the milk and get some income. I am also happy because I managed to till my land and plant, something I never thought I would be able to achieve soon since I didn't have the money.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 25000 of my recent transfer on buying a cow. I decided to buy the cow because I didn't have my own and it has always been my wish to own one. The one that I have been rearing, I borrowed from someone. I was not in a position to fulfill this wish because I didn't have the money. I am old and I am no longer able to do a lot of work. I hence usually grow vegetables in my kitchen garden and I sell them to get money for buying the essential household items such as sugar, soap, etc. Other than the above, I also spent KES 10000 on paying school fees for one of my two grandchildren. I also bought clothes for them and mine which cost me a total of KES 10000. I also spent another KES 8800 on buying two bags of maize for our consumption. With the remaining transfer amount, I spent it on tilling my land for planting and I gave out some as tithe at the church. I am thus so much grateful to GiveDirectly for their support. May God bless you.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means access to clean and safe water. I am old and I have been affected with arthritis. My joints ache a lot and longer have the effort to carry heavy items. In our area, we fetch water from the river 2 kilometers away from my house. To walk this distance alone to me is hectic and to top up with 20 liters of water in my back makes it worse. I normally sleep with backache and joint pains leaving me sleepless overnight. I have desired to purchase a water tank to assist me in harvesting rainwater. So when I receive this transfer I will purchase a tank holding 3000 liters capacity. This will relieve me from regular visits to the river and concentrate on planting traditional vegetables which will then increase income when I sell them in plenty.
What is the happiest part of your day?
For the last 2 weeks, we have received rainfall and I have been able to plant traditional vegetables which have started to sprout. This has brought joy and happiness into my life as I foresee a good income in a few months to come. Food security in my household will also improve since most of the food crop which was on the verge of withering have received enough rainfall and their yield is promising.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest challenge is financial constraints. I am a widow who is no longer economically active due to old age and arthritis. I sometimes plant traditional vegetables in my Kitchen garden where I could sell to vendors to get money to purchase food items for my household. However, our area is prone to drought and lately, we have received minimal rainfall thus my vegetables withered. I now depend on my borrowed cow from my relative where I get 3 liters per day. I sell 1 liter of it at KES 30. This income is usually insufficient to meet all my household needs.
