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.
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2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly is doing well in supporting us through the cash transfers .It's a good idea because I have seen change in my life and my area .However I feel it would be better if GiveDirectly would directly fund people's project within the same budget of the cash transfers for instance funding my business would be better because the business takes long to grow in terms of the small income investment.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Food insecurity has been the biggest challenge.My first transfer of KES 1200 was mainly spent on food and I bought two chicken to start chicken rearing business. My recent transfer came and my son who finished his secondary school had not picked his certificate due to school fees arrears. I used KES 1000 so as to pick the documents because they are highly required for his college application, used KES 600 to buy 5 packets of 2kg maize flour.I started vegetable business using KES 1000 which has been earning a minimum of between KES 50 and 100 profit which is enough to buy other things on daily basis in order to have a simple meal.My KES 400 was spent in buying medicine because I was unwell.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($11 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment the message came in I was just home wondering how the festivities and the holiday would be without having money so when I saw that GiveDirectly had come through for me it felt heaven sent and I was so overjoyed because I did not expect it at all. Plus I was losing hope on whether I could manage to provide a meal for my children.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The debts that I had were eating up my mind because I had no means and no idea on how I was going to pay them but then again life and GiveDirectly gave me the best surprise by receiving money where I managed to pay what I owed and could provide a meal for the kids during the Christmas holiday.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received the money I was so glad and the first thing I considered was paying my debts at the store where I had gone to borrow some items during the time where I had completely run out of food in my house and my children were starving due to constantly lacking meals. Therefore I paid KES 500 for my debt which was huge relief because I wanted to continue having a good relationship with the store owner since they trusted me enough to assist me in my time of need so I had to return the favor. I also went and bought three packets of maize flour for KES 360 and a packet of wheat flour for KES 160 so that we would also have meals to cook during the festive season because without the money we would have probably had nothing. Lastly I bought a hen for the purpose of rearing at KES 200.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
In the past year, I have been in and out of business selling coconuts but it has not been doing very well. At some point, I have had to sell my neighbors coconuts on their behalf because I could not get mine due to lack of capital, sometimes I only make 50 KES at the end of the day.
With these funds from Give Directly, I will be able to buy my own coconuts for resale and make better profit margins.
What is the happiest part of your day?
There has not been anything to bring me joy in the past year, leave alone six months. My husband and I were farmers but there has not been rain. Whenever we think of starting up a business even as simple as a green grocery, we are slapped by the reality that is lack of capital. Sometimes I feel so low to the point of questioning the meaning of life if even at my age, I cannot seem to get by.
I am really looking forward to seeing what the future holds for my family and I. We could use some relief.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
There has not been rain at all, therefore, my family and I have no food in the granary, we have to survive from hand to mouth by doing casual jobs around the village like digging other people's farms and earning as little as 100 KES per day.
I have serious back pains that make it very difficult to work in the farm but I have no option. I am really praying for a better tomorrow.
