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 felt so happy the moment I received money from GiveDirectly. It is my helper who informed me that there was money sent to my account already and I was so happy and appreciative. I felt happy that the things I had always wished to accomplish were finally going to be actually relized.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I am now living a more happy and fulfilling life. I feel so happy that I have been empowered by GiveDirectly to have a dairy cow of my own. The dairy cow shall not only be a source of affordable protein to my family but we will be able to sell the surplus and make other investments and meet the daily needs.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used KES 30000 to buy a dairy cow and the remaining amount of KES 20000 was used to buy iron sheets in preparation to building a bigger and better house. I did not have a dairy cow of my own having sold all that I had to pay school fees for my children. I had had to borrow one from a neighbour but I thank God now that I have been empowered to have one of my own. I also chose to buy iron sheets since the house that I am currently staying in is too small and old and grass thatched. I am looking forward to receiving the next transfer and be able to start building a new house.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this amount means my dream of owning a dairy cow shall be realized. For five years now I have been rearing somebody's cows and my two goats. Taking care of someone's property is not as pleasant and motivating as it would have been your own. Through getting these transfers I shall be relieved from the disrespect and rumors within the community. With my age of 74 am unable to do manual works and hence the cow will empower me through incomes acquired from milk sales and also in enhancing my food security.I shall purchase a cow worth KES 45000 and build a better house made of 22 iron sheets .I have lived in a hut for many years and the cost of collecting the grass is becoming high.The cows feed on the grass hence the quality required for roofing is difficult to get.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Evening is the happiest part of my day because I get time to rest and interact with my grandchildren.In a typical day I do household chores and graze the livestock in the fields .
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Hunger is the biggest hardship I have faced. Finding enough and quality food in this era is very rare. Having one meal a day has become a norm, itis also quite difficult for me to get one meal because I depend on my children to provide for me aside from vending for their families.In most instances I have to sleep hungry or take a cup of tea.The issue of hunger started in 2015 after the invasion by the maize diseases in the area.Our yields declined and we stopped planting because this is a great loss .
