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?
I can vividly recall that it was a market day in our area when I received my transfer. I was on my way home from the market when I heard my phone ringing, though I never bothered to check until I reached home. Upon arrival I reached out to where my phone was, I was happy to confirm that I had received money from GiveDirectly. This was the best news and I was so excited and grateful to have received the unconditional transfer that would positively transform our lives.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Receiving money from GiveDirectly has been of a great impact on our lives, I was able to purchase a dairy cow which I was unable to purchase due to financial constraints. I am so relieved that my children would have sufficient milk soon and I would be able to save up the money that I used on purchasing milk. We are forever grateful for the support that brought so much happiness into our lives.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Buying milk daily can be costly and unhygienic depending on how milk is handled. Though I was forced by circumstances due to financial constraints since I depend on my business of selling maize and cereal in earning an income. I am married and a mother of three children. Therefore upon the receipt of my transfer, I bought a dairy cow worth KES 35,000 to cut the cost of buying milk daily. Additionally, I used the remaining amount on foodstuffs and clothes. My family is happy and grateful because of the transfer that transformed our living standards.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I separated from my husband 4 years ago and I run a grocery business in the nearby town. The average profit on a day is KES 300. My dream has been to increase the profit to KES 1,200 a day. To realize this I intend to add more stock using the transfer from Give Directly. With the estimated spending of KES 25,000, I intend to buy more stock and increase my profits and the remaining cash will be used to buy a dairy cow. This will be the cornerstone to living a fulfilled life and I am elated about it.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In the last 5 months, I managed to start and run a grocery business in the nearby center and this has brought happiness to my life. Initially, I used to rely on casual labor within the village which was unsustainable. Luckily enough, my father gave me some cash to start a business and this has changed my life. I can now cater to my family without much hustle.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The lack of sufficient capital to improve my business is the challenge I am currently facing. I have a small grocery business in the nearby town and I have been unable to expand it due to the little profit I get from it. The average profit on a day is KES 300 yet I have other household expenditures to cater to and thus I am left with nothing to expand my business with. I feel angered by the fact that we are facing hard economic times and life has become extremely expensive. This has led me to have less cash to expand my business with.
