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?
Before these transfers, I was unemployed. To support my husband, I would practice some farming that helped with the food provision for the family. This, however, is dependent on the climate. So, often, I would depend on my husband, who works as a shopkeeper, for financial support. Now, I am self-employed thanks to the transfer I received from give directly. Thereby, there is nowhere give directly has not done well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I was unwell when my first transfer of KES1200 came in. So, I used it to cover my hospital bill. As for my second transfer, since I was unemployed and I was dependent on my husband for financial support, I used KES1500 to start a small street food business. The remaining amount, I used on food purchases. This business has helped to boost our finances. Currently, I make a daily profit of KES200. I am certain this amount will increase once my business picks.
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 still can't describe the feeling I had when I received my first transfer. I kind of exploded inside, and joy shot out of me. There were never strawberries like the ones I had that sultry evening sitting on my couch and scrolling through my phone just to have a glance at my new phone with some new entry messages. Thank so much GiveDirectly since you brought a smile on my face again. My eyes sparkled at the Mpesa message with some disbelief and I had to confirm twice if it was true. Then I knew here was my restoration. This is because I knew I would be able to seek medical attention since I have been sick for over a week then and so was food for my family.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
There is a great improvement in my life after receiving my first transfer. My life was uneasy before I received my transfers. Being jobless in a pandemic of the Coronavirus, made life kind of stormy to me.
My family can now have enough food and atleast we are able to afford to buy Water for the family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The transfers really helped me a lot. The transfers came when I needed them the most. I vividly remember when the transfer came in, I was in bed very sick. I had been suffering from malaria. It was not easy for the family unto myself too. This is because by that time I did not have any source of income. The outbreak of the pandemic simply made life to be more tougher. Drought made it even worse since we did not know what it feels like to have water in the family or food. Thank to GiveDirectly I was able to go to the hospital to seek medical attention. I spent KES 600 to buy medicine and the remaining amount KES 600 I was able to buy food for the family.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means starting a small business of vending vegetables and fruits within our village. Currently, there are no vegetables around and this means accessing them will force one to walk about 3 kilometers to buy. I plan to save my first 5 monthly transfers so that I get at least 15000 KES as my capital. This will facilitate me to start the business and hence, a reliable source of income to supplement the little earnings from my husband's casual jobs. On the other hand, the remaining transfers will cater to other basic needs like food.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I have for the past 6 months considered myself so privileged because, despite the challenges I go through in my life, my husband has never failed to provide food for the family. This is something I can not take for granted and hence, I consider it as what has brought joy to my life.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Accessing clean water in our area is the main challenge that I am currently facing in my life. This is because we depend on water pans which of now have dried up. To get 20 liters, I am forced to walk a distance of 7 kilometers where I also have to queue for about 2 hours before my 1 jerrycan gets filled.
