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?
It was in the morning when I received a message that I had received $180 from GiveDirectly, and it completely transformed my life. I had been feeling stressed about my child's secondary school fees, unsure how I would manage to pay them. With this money, I was relieved and overjoyed to finally address this important need, ensuring my child could stay in school without any interruptions.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life since I started receiving cash from GiveDirectly has been my ability to address two important needs: food and education. My children no longer go to bed hungry as they used to before, and this has brought a great sense of relief to my household. Additionally, my child in secondary school, who was on the verge of being sent home due to unpaid school fees, has been able to stay in school. This has lifted a huge weight off my shoulders and made me feel less stressed. Overall, my family is now full of joy, and I am grateful for the positive changes GiveDirectly has brought into our lives.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon receiving $180 from GiveDirectly, I immediately allocated $30 to pay school fees for one of my boys in secondary school, who is in Form One. I just want to see my children happy, and he was on the verge of being sent home due to a lack of fees. With that settled, I turned my attention to addressing the food situation at home, using $70 to ensure my family would have enough to eat now that I had the money. I also spent $60 to buy new clothing for my seven children, so that everyone could feel included in the support from GiveDirectly. I am truly thankful to GiveDirectly for enabling my family to be happy and secure.
Enrolled
access_time 3 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
Due to food shortage, we plan to prioritize food stuff. We'll spend the first transfer of $200 to buy food, uniforms and home clothes for our children. We lost most of our household items during the floods period.
Additionally, I have one child in secondary school and others about to join. We plan to set aside about $100 for their school fees. My children will have a better life with a good education.
Goats do well and are sustainable. We plan to buy about five goats. It will cost approximately $300. They breed well and fetch good prices. Goats can also be milked for home usage.
Farming is lucrative here, when the Lake subsides we plan to lease land. Planting maize, vegetables, watermelons or butter nuts fetches good profits. We'll try farming with the remainder of the transfers.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Lake Baringo is close by, I enjoy fishing. When I'm able to catch enough fish to sell, it's possible to earn $5. It brings me joy knowing that my family will have something to eat. Fishing has been my main source of happiness.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Floods wretched havoc in the village during the month of July this year. We lost our home and 2 acres of maize plantation. Forced to relocate to this location and build a one-roomed hat. It has made our lives really hard since getting food is difficult. The losses meant we have to seek alternative sources of income. We currently depend on fishing or burning charcoal to support our family of nine.
