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?
After weeks of enrollment, I had been anticipating my first transfer. Throughout that week I had been checking on all the messages that came through my phone. Early that morning I heard my phone vibrate and when I checked it was a receipt of the transfer. I was so thankful and happy since this was an assurance of my plans.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Purchase of land is the biggest daily difference in my daily life so far. I am looking forward to doing more with my second transfer
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
With the long to-do list that I had, the day of implementation was here, With KES 50,000 I spent purchasing land since I had been living in my parent's homestead. This land will enable me to plant maize both for consumption and also for cash crop and once I sell will get money to pay school fees for my two children in high school. I also spent KES 3,000 in clearing arrears that I had for the previous term. I bought food with the remaining amount for my household.
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money a means better living standard. We are seven siblings and supposed to share 2-hectare ancestral land amongst us hence less than an acre which will not be enough to farm and raise my family of four. I earn a living through subsistence farming and one acre is not enough to cultivate enough to earn a profit. We are planning to use KES 50,000 to acquire one acre of land. The rest I will use to purchase a dairy cow that will produce milk in a few years. I am happy because my children will have enough milk for drinking and the surplus I can sell.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Consistent rainfall for the last six months has brought me happiness. A month ago, I harvested five sacks of maize which earned me KES 8,000 that I used to pay for my son's school fees compared to previously I could get one sack or none from the same piece of land.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Paying for school fees for my son in secondary school is an uphill task. This is because in the last season I only harvested five bags of maize from which I earned KES 8,000 from selling four bags. This was not enough to pay for school fees and was left with arrears. He has missed his studies for days due to school arrears. I feel bad about it hence financial constraints is the biggest challenge.
