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?
Usually, I turn off my phone at night to save battery since we don’t have network coverage, so no one can reach me even if it’s on. When I woke up in the morning and turned my phone on, the first message that popped up was from GiveDirectly, confirming that I had received $180. I was overjoyed because I had been planning to attend my child’s prayer day in Form four, and now I had the means to do so. I shared the wonderful news with my whole family, and together, we happily attended the event, feeling grateful and proud.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest change in my life since receiving this support has been the sense of security and stability it has given me. I now have the means to provide for my family in a way that wasn’t possible before. By investing in two sheep, I’ve created a source of income that will help me cover important expenses like school fees and emergencies in the future. Adding a door to our home has also provided a new level of safety, giving us peace of mind and protecting our belongings. Being able to attend my child’s prayer day and afford household essentials has brought a level of dignity and joy to our daily lives that I deeply cherish. This support from GiveDirectly has not only met my immediate needs but has empowered me to plan for a brighter, more secure future for my family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon receiving $180 from GiveDirectly, I was filled with joy and carefully planned how to use the money to address the things I was lacking. I decided to spend $100 to buy two sheep, aiming to create a sustainable source of income. As the sheep multiply, I’ll be able to use them to pay school fees in the future and have something to rely on in emergencies. After that, I spent $15 on food to ensure that my family had enough to eat as we went about our daily activities. Additionally, I used $15 to improve our home by purchasing a door, finally securing the house, and protecting our belongings. I used the remaining amount to fuel my motorcycle so we could attend my child’s prayer day, and I also bought household essentials like utensils and other non-food items that we were missing. This support from GiveDirectly has allowed me to make meaningful improvements in my life and has given me a sense of security and hope for the future.
Enrolled
access_time 3 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
Receiving the cash transfers means so much to my family and I. I believe that receiving the cash transfers will help us transform our life positively. For the first cash transfer, I have planned to use KES 18000 to build an extra room. This is important since we are currently living in a small one bedrommed house. For the second cash transfer I intend to purchase 5 goats at KES 4000 each. For the remaining KES 25000 I intend to save. For the third cash transfer I intend to use KES 45000 together with KES 20000 from the second transfer to purchase a motorbike. Currently I'm using a borrowed motorbike and I can't wait to purchase my own. This will enable me to vend for my family and also do the boda boda business.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiness over the last 6 months is the wellbeing of my family. In the last 6 months no one in my family has fallen sick which makes my life pleasant.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Currently, I'm faced with the challenge of lacking food. Having cultivated my 2 hector land and planted maize in the month of April, I had hoped that I would have a good harvest. However, because of the rising water level of lake Baringo my whole farm ended up submerged with part of my crops. I only managed to get 2 bags of maize which is not enough for my family. This has stressed me greatly since I don't have enough money to buy more food. This has made life quite difficult for my family and I.
