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 with my husband when I saw a message on my phone saying that GiveDirectly had sent me $180. I felt an overwhelming wave of happiness wash over me. My first thought was to go to the bank and withdraw the cash so I could hold it in my hands. The idea of having that money physically felt so reassuring and exciting. I couldn’t wait to see how this support would improve our lives and address our pressing needs. Holding the money would make it feel real, and I was filled with hope for the future.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
My life has changed significantly since I acquired the goats. Now, my family has a steady supply of food, which brings us peace of mind. The goats provide us with fresh milk, which not only nourishes us but also adds variety to our meals. Additionally, having goats means that we have a source of income if we ever need it. This newfound security has improved our overall quality of life, and I am grateful for the support that made this possible. With enough food to eat and the goats to help us in times of need, I feel more hopeful about our future.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon receiving the $180 from GiveDirectly, I decided to invest in my family’s future. I used $140 to buy two goats, which will provide us with milk and serve as a source of income. Having goats will also be helpful in times of emergencies, as they can be sold if needed. Additionally, I bought food because we were struggling with hunger, and it was important for my family to have enough to eat. Now, we feel more secure knowing that we have both food and a way to generate income for our needs.
Enrolled
access_time 3 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
Since we were hit by floods that led to the destruction of our household and also loss of our property, receiving the cash transfers means so much to us. We have planned to use the first cash transfer of KES 10,000 to purchase 2 goats and the remaining KES 8,000 on food. For the second cash transfer and part of the third cash transfer we have planned to build a house. This is important because we are living in a mud house which gets affected by rain and flood water. With the new iron sheet house we are intending to construct we shall live without worry of it getting destroyed whenever it rains. We have planned to use about KES 65,000 of the cash transfers on this. We have also planned to use KES 25,000 of the third cash transfers to do mellon farming. We intend to plant a one hector melon farm. This is important because we will have an extra source of money when we sell them.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiness over the last 6 months has come from the rains we have received. Despite the fact that it came with destructive flooding I'm happy because we have enough pasture for our livestock.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest challenge we are facing currently is the flooding that has affected our village. The flooding has led to the death of our 6 chickens and destruction of our house. This has become a big challenge since we are forced to start over and yet we don't have enough money to do so. This has made life very difficult.
