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?
The transfers received have literally changed lives in a positive way as people are now able to sustain their families and more to that, live comfortably by investing in different projects.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Receiving the KES 3000 has brought much joy and relief to the entire family in this tough economic times. I am married to one husband and we have three kids together. My husband works as a tailor and I on my end operate as a housewife. My biggest desire has been to always be a livestock farmer and the amount transferred to me provided a limelight towards achieving my goal, as I saved up the whole amount to see to it that I accomplish the project.
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 just at home fetching water for the basic use as I heard a buzz on my phone. I gave my son the phone to read to me the text and on hearing it was an MPESA message from GiveDirectly, I was so elated and knew that food would now be adequate in the house. I withdrew the funds on the same day.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I was able to buy food for the entire household and now we cannot sleep hungry anymore. My husband did not have money at the time and was happy to help in buying the food supplements.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The lack of adequate funds to sustain a family is a major setback and being jobless, I have witnessed this first hand. I am married to one husband who is a tailor and together we are blessed with three kids two of whom are in school. On receiving the KES 1200, I was quite releaved as we now were able to buy food at KES 850 enabling us not to sleep hungry anymore as food was finished in the house. More to that I bought one hen at KES 300 for poultry farming.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
In this village, farmers who sell livestock and poultry make quite some good money in profit. Because I have no job at the moment, I requested my husband for some money so that I can buy a few chickens to rear. He promised to get back to me with the amount he can raise. With my transfers, I will open a bank account and start saving toward buying a cow. Every month, I can save KES 1,500 and use what remains to help with food and other basic needs like clothes.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The festive season that passed was good. We hosted so many relatives who work in different towns. It was nice having full houses and enough food to share as well as catching up and making merry. It was a breath of fresh air.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The pain of watching the crops on my farm dry up is indescribable. We planted with the hope rains would continue but the joke was on us. This is so discouraging.
