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?
It was late afternoon, and I was busy fixing my fence destroyed by the floods that hit us hard in May. Suddenly, my phone, which was in my pocket, beeped, indicating an incoming message. I immediately reached for it to check the SMS. To my surprise, it was a Mpesa message indicating that I had received $200 from GiveDirectly. Overwhelmed with joy, I quickly called my spouse to share the good news. Later that evening, my spouse and I sat down together to thoughtfully plan how to use the money. Thank you, GiveDirectly, for your support.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Ever since receiving the transfer, the most significant change in my life is that I am less stressed about finding food for my family. The flood destroyed everything I had, including our stored food, which was about 40 kg of maize. Life became a struggle as I had to rely on casual work to provide for them, and this work was not guaranteed. I could only find work twice a week and earn just $3 per day, which was insufficient to cover our food needs. The transfer allowed me to purchase enough food for my family, ensuring that my four children are well-fed and there is no risk of hunger, unlike before. This stability has also enabled me to focus on my one-and-a-half-acre maize farm, rather than being torn between seeking work and tending to my own farm. Thanks to GiveDirectly, I can now concentrate on my farming activities, which I am confident will lead to increased productivity.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Last rainy season, our area was hit by devastating floods. The floods intruded on our house, destroying our furniture, clothes, and food supplies. The transfer came as a much-needed relief, enabling me to restore what had been lost. First, I used $40 to buy a sack of maize, ensuring that my family would not miss their meals. Next, I spent $50 on clothes for the family since our previous clothing was ruined by the floods. To replace the destroyed furniture, I bought three plastic chairs and a table for $40. Additionally, I used $20 to pay towards my children's primary school fees. This ensured they could continue their education without being sent home. I assured the school head that I would clear the remaining fees as soon as I received the next transfer.
When we were displaced by the floods, I had to sell my two goats to meet my family's basic needs. Realizing the value of these animals during emergencies like that, I used the remaining amount from the transfer to buy a goat to replace one of the ones I had sold. This ensures that I have an asset to sell in the future if needed.
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access_time 4 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
Once beaten, twice shy! After the damages the floods caused to my household one month ago, I have seriously considered relocating to safer ground. However, this requires finances that I currently do not have. As a family of three, we often depend on farming to earn a living, but the floods partly washed away our farms. At the moment, my maize farm is doing fairly well but requires maintenance, such as watering, which I cannot afford due to the cost of fuel. When I receive my transfers, I plan to spend $100 on maintaining my maize farm to ensure a successful harvest. This will involve purchasing fertilizers and fuel.To avoid future calamities, I will spend $500 to purchase a 0.5-acre piece of land on safer ground. This investment will provide my family with security and peace of mind, ensuring we do not have to worry about damages from future floods.
What is the happiest part of your day?
At times, we wish for rain without considering the potential damage it might bring. One month ago, my village, Murda, was severely affected by the overflowing rivers Perkerra and Molo. Half an acre of my 1-acre maize farm was washed away, and I could not help but feel the pain of the loss. However, the remaining half-acre is growing well, and I am hopeful for a bountiful harvest.Moreover, I am immensely grateful and relieved that my family of three emerged from the floods unhurt, despite their intensity. This resilience gives me hope and strength to move forward, focusing on the positive and looking forward to better days ahead.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
When I enrolled in college three years ago, I hoped to complete my course in supply chain management and eventually graduate. However, this dream was cut short due to a lack of finances to pay for my school fees, forcing me to drop out. Upon returning home, I focused on farming, hoping it would yield positive results. Unfortunately, this endeavor has also been fraught with challenges. Farming here relies solely on irrigation to thrive. Although I own a water pump, the rising price of fuel is straining my finances. My maize crops are now on the verge of drying up because I cannot afford petrol.I have also wished to expand my farming operations, but capital has been a significant challenge. The small-scale farms are not bearing the expected fruits, and I am worried that the losses from this farm might adversely affect my family of three.
