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?
At the moment when I received my money I felt happy and thought it was a dream. I sang and danced and what rang in my mind at that time was that God can surely work wonders. This was a miracle. It was at 7 pm, alone at home but I could not wait for my spouse to return home. Immediately after he arrived I shared with him the news, and we both celebrated.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
My children are currently in good health because we are able to provide them with proper nutrition. They get good protein from the milk, and we also use the money we earn from milk sales to buy them nutritious meals. They also have a good sleeping place. I am proud too because I also contribute to meeting the family's needs with the income from the milk sales. My spouse no longer strains to meet our needs.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The cost of renovating a mud-walled house is high, especially considering that whenever it rains the walls get washed off. With the receipt of the first transfer, we agreed with my spouse to upgrade it to a timber walled house that is warmer, decent, and does not require constant maintenance. We, therefore, spent KES 20000 on both timber, nails, and construction labor. It was a two-room house, but we have also added an extra room for our children. They are growing fast and it is comfortable sharing with them a bed anymore. KES 35000 we spent on a dairy cow. Previously, I relied on my spouse who does casual work but since he does not earn much from it, he used to strain meeting our needs. I am glad our cow has already given birth, and we currently have an additional income from the milk sales.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money will be a big boost to me and my family. I live in a moderate house which is not big enough to accommodate me, my husband and my four children. The children are growing and I feel they should have a separate house. Also the amount will help my husband in starting domestic animals brokery business. This business will help us save for our children school fees and cater for their daily needs. I really appreciate GiveDirectly's help and I am happy because our living standards will be uplifted.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The month of February 2022 became the genisis of my joy and happiness where my dairy cow gave birth. Since then, my children have never gone to bed hungry. From the same source I have been able to sell surplus milk at a price of KES.50 per litre thus meeting other recurrent inhouse expenditure. I am much grateful and happy for the peace in my household.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Currently I am not able to fully provide for my family subsistence needs. I have a half an acre piece of land which I entirely depend on for all my family needs that is food, clothing, shelter and education. In the previous harvest season I harvested 4 bags of maize which I exhausted a month ago. I am now struggling to put food on the table. I am optimistic that ,with the transfers from Give Directly, the brokery business will enable us meet the family's daily expenses.
