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?
When I woke up in the morning, I reached for my phone to check the time, and there it was—a message notification waiting for me. I opened it without thinking much, and then I saw it: money from GiveDirectly! I could hardly believe my eyes. My heart raced, and this wave of joy just took over me. I couldn’t contain myself; it was like a dream come true! I'd been planning to start farming for so long but never had the resources to make it happen. Now, with this cash in my hands, that journey was finally possible—no more putting it off, no more empty plans.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference I've seen since receiving the cash from GiveDirectly is that I've started farming, something I had never done before in my life. Just yesterday, I sold my very first harvest and made $500! I feel like the happiest person alive because, to be honest, I can't remember the last time I held that much money in my hands. Before this, I used to earn just $16 every two weeks from burning charcoal, a difficult and exhausting job. I never realized farming could be this profitable, and now I see a future where I can keep growing, both in my skills and my earnings. GiveDirectly has truly changed my life.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent $30 on irrigation pipes for my farm, as it was planting season, and I've been wanting to move away from depending on charcoal burning. With the irrigation setup, I’ll be able to keep my crops alive during the dry season, which is something I’ve struggled with in the past. I also used $55 to buy cabbage seeds, hoping to try my hand at farming. Cabbages mature fairly quickly and sell well, so I see this as a good investment. Along with that, I bought a bag of maize for $40 to ensure we have food security while I focus on farming. To protect my crops, I spent another $20 on pesticides specifically for the cabbage farm, which should help reduce losses and improve the yield. With a little left over, I decided to spend $15 on clothes for my children, so they would look presentable. The remaining amount, I set aside for emergencies, knowing that unexpected expenses can come up. Overall, I feel that this cash transfer has given me the opportunity to start fresh and make choices that I hope will improve our future stability.
Enrolled
access_time 3 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
For the past two years, I have been dreaming of starting a fish business, but my financial resources have been a barrier. As a family of five, we rely on charcoal burning and my husband’s motorcycle taxi business to put food on the table, leaving us with no savings for other ventures. However, there is now a glimmer of hope with the upcoming transfers. I plan to spend $200 in starting the fish business, which I will transport to Eldoret City. With the remaining funds, I intend to venture into crop farming. I plan to lease land in the highland area of Baringo, where rainfall is plentiful, to provide food for my family. I am excited about these new opportunities and hopeful they will offer us a more stable and prosperous future.
What is the happiest part of your day?
With the rise in charcoal burning among the community members in Meisori, trees have become increasingly scarce, making it essential to diversify income sources. For a long time, I relied on charcoal burning to feed my family of five, but the profits have been steadily decreasing. To address this, I decided to start goat farming. I now have 23 goats, and I was thrilled two months ago when 12 of them gave birth, increasing the flock size. This new venture has given me a sense of relief and hope for the future. If things get worse, I now have the option to sell some goats to support my family. It is comforting to know that I have a backup plan and a source of income that could help us through difficult times.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am really struggling right now, and it feels overwhelming. We do not have a farm to cultivate because the land here is too rocky, so I rely on charcoal burning to help make ends meet. My husband also works in the motorcycle taxi business, but it is still not enough. The charcoal burning is not very profitable anymore since the trees are getting scarcer, and almost everyone in the village does the same thing. On a good month, I only make about $20 from it, which barely covers our food needs. I often find myself having to buy goods on credit from local shops, and living from hand to mouth is deeply stressful and disheartening. It worries me so much to see us struggling just to get by.
