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?
.GiveDirectly does well by giving us the unconditional transfers. This has helped me a lot in ensuring that we improve our living stands and stay out of poverty, which we have been living in for the longest time in our life.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am the only breadwinner in my family. My husband, who is of old age, no longer goes to work. My only job is to sell charcoal, firewood and even fetch water for other people. The farms we depended on are no longer productive and we have to settle on selling charcoal to earn a living. When I received my first transfer, I spent KSH 1000 to buy food for the family. The previous day we slept hungry, and the starvation really affected the children. I did not fully roof the house and when it rains; it floods and destroys the property inside. Because of this I bought one sheet so that before the rainy season I will have to fix the entire roof. Having bought the iron sheet, I saved the remaining KSH 1000 so that it will be enough to buy a goat in the future.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($11 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I felt so good. I heard the Mpesa message and was at home. I quickly checked it and there it was. The shock and happiness of my life. My life has changed for the best since then.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
It would have been difficult. I would have lacked the money to provide for my basic needs, hence land in a lot of debt to provide for my family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a mother of four. The money helped me so much in providing for my families basic needs. I was able to buy dour packets of baking flour and silverfish for that day. At least we got a nice meal on that day. After that, I saved Kes. 500 to help me in future. I do casual work and farming to earn a living. Thank you so much for the help.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have desired to have a good house where I don't have fear of being rained on, bitten by snakes at night and roof carried away by the wind. I had given up on this dream since I'm now old and not in a position to build a permanent house. When your fellow officer visited me for the first time during the census, I felt a certain relief because I knew I was about to fulfill my dreams. There is hardware in my neighborhood and I'm planning to buy the building materials on credit and thereafter repay the debt with the monthly transfers that I will be receiving.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I appreciate the fact that I have a supportive family. Even though I some days go the whole day without food, sometimes I find myself thinking if it was not for them, I probably would have died.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I have a son in the hospital who has been admitted for a couple of months now. He was my only hope because I used to depend on him for basic needs. Now I have been left in mercies of neighbors and well-wishers. Sometimes I even go two days without food, life has never been so easy for me lately.
