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 in town, my daughter was resuming back to school, and I had taken her to pay partially her fees. I was thrilled to receive a message with a receipt of $182.4 from GiveDirectly. I had already budgeted for this amount since I was expecting it, and I was grateful to God. I immediately notified my elder daughter in another town, whom I had promised to support her salon business because she has always been there for us. I was grateful to GiveDirectly for their timely assistance, which allowed me to fulfill my promise to my daughter and the other plans I had.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Before receiving the transfer from GiveDirectly, I struggled alone to sustain my children and even pay my daughter's school fees in her final year of high school. The weight of these responsibilities was overwhelming. However, with the support from GiveDirectly, I now have the means to tackle these challenges. I had been struggling on my own to make ends meet, but now, I have a sense of hope that I had not felt in a long time. I am truly grateful to GiveDirectly for their support, which has made all the difference in my life.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a single mom, and my five children rely on our crop-farming activities for sustenance. Although crop farming has been challenging at times, this year's rains have been promising, and I planted maize on 4.5 acres. Unfortunately, the floods ruined my 2-acre maize farm, leaving me with 2.5 acres remaining. Despite these setbacks, I was able to use my first transfer from GiveDirectly to pay off a debt of $50 that I had accumulated during planting. At the time, my maize was at the topdressing stage, and I used $47 to purchase topdressing fertilizer. Additionally, I used $50 to reduce my daughter's arrears of $170, leaving me with a balance of $120. The remaining $53 I used to purchase food items. Thank you GiveDirectly.
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access_time 7 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
I am lucky that my two daughters are skilled in hairdressing. With the transfers from GiveDirectly, I will rejuvenate my dream of venturing into the business of hairdressing. I will plan KES 40000 as a starter capital. This will enable us tap more profits and uplift our family. I will also use KES 30000 to farm my land now that the planting season is approaching. With this, we will be able to have stable food for the family as well as family income. I will also plan to spend KES 10000 clears school fees arrears for my son.
What is the happiest part of your day?
It was on December 2023 when my daughter Juliet Chamakany was employed as a hairdresser in Eldoret town. This was came as a blessings and happiness to my family. I am no longer struggling alone since she has been helpful to us, she send us some money to to buy food and other basic needs.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The year 2022 left me with a lot of memories and a big scar of perennial poverty. My dream was to start a hairdressing business and I had managed to save about KES 200000. It all started as an abdominal pain and I thought it was a just a normal ailments. Little did I know that I was suffering from ulcers, the pain worsened and I was rushed to Marigat district hospital for medication. To my shock, I was diagnosed with chronic ulcers which required advanced treatment. Being a single paren and the breadwinner of my family, I was left with nothing but to spend my savings to pay for medical bill. This was not enough, I found myself selling my family assets and even borrowing money from my friends and relatives. I am currently struggling financially to put food on the table as well as meet my family needs.
