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?
The moment I received the transfer I felt so happy. I remember it was around 9am. I was at home with some visitors, when I heard a message tone from my phone. My son checked it for me. He said that it was a message confirming that I have received money from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy because I knew I would be able to pay bills for my wife who was feeling unwell. We were so happy as a family because we needed money at that time.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have purchased a heifer. I used to buy milk daily and this is so costly for me. I depend on small scale farming and poultry keeping project. This earns me small income I was not able to buy a dairy cow. Our area is semi desert and we are not in a position to get enough produce. When I received the transfer from GiveDirectly I felt so happy because I knew I would be able to buy a heifer. I will be able to get enough milk when the heifer reproduce in the next few months. This has given us hope that things gonna be great. I will be able to save the money that I could have used to buy milk to spend on other basic household items. I have devoted much of my time on this amazing dairy project. I look after my cow and ensure that I gave the right feeds. I am so grateful because GiveDirectly has changed our living standards.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent the money I received from GiveDirectly to pay hospital bills for my wife Paid hospital bill for my wife who was admitted at the hospital but unfortunately she passed on after some few weeks. I bought a heifer at a cost of KES 30,000. I plough my farm and bought seeds and ready for planting. The rest of the money I bought food and clothes. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has changed our living standards.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money would mean a paid hospital bill for my wife. She is currently hospitalized being treated for stomach cancer for the last 3 weeks the bill has risen to KES. 200,000 and it is still rising. My family organized a fund raiser recently but it just raised 10% of the KES. 200,000. Despite my wife being in hospital now am happy that I have been enrolled to this program at least it will help me pay her medical bill in part.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Since I am very old and I do not really do a lot at the moment I find the morning hours being the happiest part of my day since I get to visit my children and their families just within this compound.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
We have been living in good health with my wife until last year December when she was diagnosed with stomach cancer and this was the most difficult moment of our lives. We had to spend a lot of money in hospital seeking her treatment and we're still spending, in the long run I have had to sell all the assets I had in livestock and land. This is the biggest hardship I am currently going through in my life.
