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.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
In the upcoming year and beyond, my main goal will be to enhance my expertise and experience in farming. My ultimate objective is to begin by fencing my land and subsequently focus on expanding my farming activities, particularly in the cultivation of fruits, beans, and maize. I am brimming with optimism and determination that all of this is achievable, as I plan to sell some of the goats I currently have and reinvest the proceeds into farming. I am thankful for the achievements I have already attained, and I eagerly anticipate the future with a deep sense of gratitude and excitement.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly has had an incredible impact on our living standards. It provided us with the freedom to use our funds as we saw fit, as long as it complied with the law. They also obtained our consent before enrolling us. Throughout my interactions with the staff and the program, I did not come across any aspects that needed to be changed or improved.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My family consists of eight members, including my husband, our six children, and myself. My husband is employed as a tour guide, while I support our family by selling fruits and vegetables. Upon receiving funds from GiveDirectly, I viewed it as an opportunity to invest in securing my land through fencing and later implementing an irrigation system since it is situated near a river. Fencing will safeguard my land from intruders while I am away. Consequently, I decided to save $350, which I plan to combine with my third transfer to execute these plans. I then spent the remaining $100, using $60 to purchase food items and $40 for buying clothes. Finally, I can see a ray of hope on the horizon, as all of this was previously unattainable due to financial limitations. The meager income we generated was largely allocated to school fees and essential food supplies.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
20000 KES ($141 USD)
access_time 2 months ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 3:00 pm in the afternoon, and I had just finished tilling my land. The scorching sun was making it difficult to continue working, so I decided to take a break with my three children under a tree. We were all feeling very hungry as we hadn't had any food since early in the morning. We had to save the little flour we had for the evening meal. My phone was lying nearby, and suddenly, I received an SMS. It was rare for me to receive messages, so I quickly checked to see who it was from. To my immense joy, I realized that I had received the money from GD. This was a huge relief because I knew that my children would not have to go hungry again. I made plans to travel to the nearest town the following morning to buy food for my family.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I am delighted to say that my life has improved significantly now that I have enough food to sustain my family for two months, ensuring that my children will not have to skip meals again. This newfound food security has positively impacted my small business, as I can now focus on saving more of the income generated from it. Previously, my business would face disruptions because I had to use all the earnings, including the capital, to meet basic needs like food. With the transfers from GD, I no longer face such challenges, and my business is flourishing as a result. This financial stability allows me to plan for the future and invest in the growth of my business, bringing greater prosperity to my family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used the entire amount of $200 to purchase food, including two sacks of maize worth $150 and other food stuff i.e sugar. Both my spouse and I made this decision to safeguard our children from hunger, especially given the irregular nature of our income sources. I run a small grocery business that yields a modest income of approximately $1 per day, and my spouse occasionally engages in casual construction work, which can be sporadic and infrequent, sometimes happening once a month. By investing the money in food, we aimed to ensure food security for our family of six children, prioritizing their well-being and nourishment during this tough economic times.
Enrolled
access_time 5 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
Due to the insecurity of our home and the risk of losing goats to wild attacks. I believe it's very important we secure it. This will give us peace of mind. Fencing our compound well will cost approximately $300. Meaning our goats and we will be safe from surprise animal attacks.
Our family business has been down. We are a maize milling business. Lack of sufficient income to buy stock has affected it. We plan to add more maize stock. One bag of maize now costs $60. We'll buy 5 bags to raise our sales income. This means we'll have more profits to support our family.
Goats have been doing well here since the times of our forefathers. It's strategic to add more stock. In addition to the 30 we currently have. We plan to buy 10 more, which can cost upwards of $500. More goats mean we can have more income through their sales. It will help us during times of emergencies and also support our children's education. We can also slaughter the goats for home consumption.
What is the happiest part of your day?
It makes me happy to be with my husband and our 6 children. It's a joy seeing them grow up so fast. This has made my life worth it.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Our biggest problem is the security of our home. We live in an open compound. It's not safe to stay like this. There's always some fear of the unknown.
We have about 30 goats and we sleep worried about their safety. Wild animals such as hyenas or wild dogs can strike at any time giving us losses. They have previously attacked twice in the last 2 years. This makes us worried about losing some of the goats that give us income.
