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.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
So far, everything regarding GiveDirectly has been smooth. The enrollment process was fair and we have been receiving money monthly as we were promised. Therefore in my opinion, what GiveDirectly does well is keeping their promises.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I had been sleeping in a house without door for the longest time. All this time, I was afraid of being attacked by wild animals at night with my children and I couldn't help it due to financial constraints. I sell coconut to earn living and the maximum profit that I earn per week is KES 400. This amount can not afford to fully provide for my family and buy a door since I'm a widow and the only bread winner. Being enrolled in the program was a good opportunity for me to buy a door and offset arrears which I had accumulated. I spend KES 1000 to buy a temporary door, KES 1000 to settle fees arrears for two of my three school going children and the balance to buy food. I'm happy that we now sleep soundly without fear of being attacked at night and I'm so grateful to GiveDirectly for saving my family out of this great danger.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($10 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was in the market going on with my usual coconut selling business. As we wait for our clients, we always engage in stories with my colleagues in the market. As we continued with the stories, I heard notification from my phone and being the story teller, I hesitated to check. After a few minutes, I checked and to my surprise, I received my transfer from Give Directly. For a moment, I was silent as I reread the SMS notification with tears of joy rolling down my cheeks. My colleagues thought I had received bad news and came close to me to confirm what was wrong. Only to realize I had received money and I was shading tears of joy.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
This is the first time I have received money from Give Directly as they promised. I want to say am looking forward to greater things with the monthly transfers but from the first transfer, I have managed to boost my coconut selling business. With the transfer, I added more stock of coconut and even moved to a structure from the ground where I usually spread them down. Now I have an improved stock and the sun does not hit directly as it used to. I know as I continue received the transfer, I will make my life and that of my family better.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Since I separated with my husband 6 months ago, I have been living with my parents. Life has not been easy for us especially in meeting our basic needs, mostly food. My parents are too old to be actively involved in providing for the family. As a result, we have always depended on my brother who works as a motorcycle rider for food. Not to be a burden to him, I also started a small coconut selling business in the market to boost his income with a loan of KES 2000 I got from a friend. I have been paying back the loan for the last 2 months but I have only managed KES 600. I still owe KES 1400 which am yet to pay. This is the reason I used KES 800 from my transfer of KES 1200 to boost the business by adding more stock of coconut. Through this, I know I will sell more, earn more and be able to pay back the loan and support my brother well in providing for the family. The remaining KES 400 from my transfer, I used to buy 4kg of maize flour to boost the little stock of food we had left in the house. At least, I am sure in the next two weeks, we will have at least a meal for my family.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
When I separated from my husband five years ago, I never knew that was the Genesis of my financial struggles. I could not stay in my marriage because of the abuse. When I came back home, I did not have any plan on how the children will be raised. I do not have an education so I started taking up casual jobs in the village. Now, I have hope of starting a business. I will sell fish and use the returns to educate my children. KES 5,000 will kickstart then I will add to my stock as time goes by. I am excited at the prospect of this possible financial freedom.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I feel happy every market day that sees my customers buy all my coconuts. More often than not, I bring back so many of them back home an that breaks my heart.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I do not have meaningful work. I take whatever job that comes my way. One time, I sell coconut and make it as low as KS KES 50, the other I am at a construction site asking for anything to do even if it means carrying bricks on my head from one place to the other just I make KES 100. It feels like I signed up to wake up every single day to suffer and never have rest or peace of mind.
