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.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Ever since the droughts hit my area, farming has been a problem and this has brought about a scarcity of food. Since I am not formally employed, to fend for my 12year old son, who stays with my ex-wife, I have to look for casual livelihoods and mostly I would land on handyman job at a construction site. In a month, I normally make between KES 0 to KES 1000. Which is still not enough and at the time I was getting my transfer, I had not been contracted for a while and I lacked the means to put food on the, so I used the funds to purchase food for my family.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I like how GiveDirectly gives aid to citizens. The transfers have really helped us considering no one in my village harvested even a grain of maize. Were it not for GiveDirectly, we'd probably be suffering from hunger and some might have succumbed. The only this I'd suggest that you improve on is the amount of transfers you offer to recipients. The monthly transfers are too little to cater for all our needs so one has to focus on the most pivotal ones such as food and leave the rest. It would be better if we got KES 10 000 for example. One can now allocate some to food and the rest to development.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent the transfer on Christmas celebrations as well as food, water and upkeep for my son. In my village we depend on rain. It's our main source of water, we are able to harvest it and use it for our day to day needs. However, since there has been a relatively long, dry period, we have to buy water. A trip with 6 jericans of water costs KES 200 and lasts us approximately 3 days. I gave the supplier KES 450 and got 8 jericans this time which we were able to use for sometime. I then sent my son KES 800 for his upkeep as we do not live together. The rest of the transfer I used for the Christmas celebrations.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($11 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
This particular day was not a normal one as it was during a funeral and I was busy cutting timber for making the casket. I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket but did not check at that time. Later on I was able to look and I saw the money. I felt as if a boulder had been removed from my shoulder. I was very happy and grateful to Give directly.
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 am now able to save and achieve my dreams. I have always wanted to buy two farming cows. The one's that I take to the field to help in digging and planting. This would be possible as I am soon going to join a Chama which I would save up for it.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When this money came in I had been attending a funeral that had befallen us. I had to contribute and was lucky enough when this money came in. The first thing I did was to give KES.800 to the committee and the other KES.400 I spent it on food for my family. It has been a tough couple of days.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
When I start receiving this money, my intention is to buy two cows. The reason I want to buy them is, we are preparing for the rainy season and they will help in land preparation.
With the money coming in bits, I cannot afford to buy the cows at once. My thought is to get a loan of 30,000KES from my savings group and then pay back in installments of 2,500KES from the money we get.
At the end, I'm hopeful for great maize harvest.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Whenever we get some food and the most basic needs like medical care, I feel so happy. I still hold on to the hope that someday, my siblings and I will make it. Keeping hope alive and having a positive attitude gives me joy from day to day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
At the moment, I'm separated from my wife. We had lived together for seven years and life was bearable.
Roughly about two years ago, I lost my job as a driver. We depleted our saving and when things did not seem to look up, she packed and left me, taking with her our 10 year old son.
I feel so alone lately and my efforts to bring her back seem futile. I'm torn between pursuing her and marrying someone else. My worry is, I still do not have the resources.
