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 was at home alone doing house chores. I was feeling so down, low and very disappointed with the life challenges. Later before noon time, some of my friends from neighbourhood came visiting and confirmed that they had already received the transfers from Give Directly earlier in the day. I had to rush to the bedroom to confirm mine as well. I was so happy as that day I had no money to buy my family food and other needs.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is majorly the feeding pattern, my family used to skip meals, mostly we could eat only once a day, that is supper, instead of having three meals in a day. Since the transfers, the pattern changed and we are feeding on regular and very balanced diet.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used the transfers to buy a bed, mattress and to replace the beddings as the ones I had were torn.
I used Kshs 20,000. These days I sleep so comfortable.
I used Kshs 20,000 to buy two cows, I do subsistence farming for a living, before the transfers I used to do it manually as I never had enough money to hire casual labor. With the cows on board, farming is easier, as I can cultivate a larger piece of land within shortest time possible.
I used Kshs 15,000 to pay school fees and to clear the balance of the previous terms. Before the transfers, my son used to be out of the classroom mostly and this affected his performance. I am looking forward to better grades since I managed to clear this terms school fees.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have a two roomed house that is way too small to accommodate my family of six comfortably. I plan to renovate it while creating an extension of children's room. I will be really happy to regain my privacy after settling children in their own room. I plan to start by buying new iron sheets then rebuild parts of the walls while reinforcing with concrete. I have also been just a house wife depending on my husband to provide all the family needs through his casual jobs. These jobs can only pay him about 200 KES daily whenever he's able to get one. This level of income is a little too low for our needs as a family. I have been longing for a grant like this to be able to start and operate a business offering other essentials alongside groceries. I therefore feel it's going to be a breakthrough for me when I receive this money.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I enjoy keeping domestic animals because I consider them a store of wealth. I started off by raring goats until I had seven. I then agreed on a butter trade with another farmer who exchange for me the goats with a cow. I kept this it for about one year and finally it delivered a healthy calf in December last year. I was very happy at that moment because I felt already creating stripes in this business and very soon I'll have enough to be able to sell whenever I need big amount of money urgently.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Low income has crippled most of our family projects over the time to an extent that we sometimes have to go without food or other family needs as we are not able to afford it. It would be my greatest joy if I could start a business so that I eek out my husband's income from the so many casual jobs he has in the village. He is only able to earn between 200 KEas to 500 KES per day whenever he works. But this is not enough to get us specifically food and water while also paying other bills like school fees for my three children who are in primary school paying fees of 1500 KES every term.
