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.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The coming of GiveDirectly to us has changed our lives through their unconditional transfers. I am happy that we are now able to fulfil some of the basic needs like food and education for our children. We engage in subsistence farming which has not been doing well due to inadequate rains. Getting some casual jobs and menial jobs like others do is hard, thus we are left to rely on the monthly transfers. In my opinion, giving us the transfers and freedom to plan ourselves is what GiveDirectly does well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I invested a larger portion of my transfers in livestock which include 9 chickens and a goat. My plan is to ensure that through these animals, I will be able to use them as assets to educate my children. In addition to this, I also paid for my children's school fees for them to continue with their studies. They had stayed at home for some time due to a lack of fees. I am relieved to see them continue with their studies without any interruptions. Lastly, I took KES 1000 and bought enough food for my family. I am glad that my family could now enjoy three meals a day unlike before when we could skip meals.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($11 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was already in the field in my usual work place cutting down woods to make charcoal. My phone started ringing out loud and, without wasting time; I checked it out and noticed that I had received text message confirming I had received some amount of money. Immediately i realize that the money had i received was my first transfer. While still thinking about the money, a friend of mine passed by smiling and informed me she had just received her transfer and was on her way to withdraw the money. I immediately connected the dots that the money I had received was from GiveDirectly. Together with my friend, we left hurriedly towards the nearest shop, where we withdrew our money. I went back home while thrilled.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The money has made a big difference in my life. I can now afford three meals a day unlike before when things were very tough, and I had to survive on one meal a day. Another difference is that my grandchild is back in school continuing with her education after spending almost two weeks playing at home due to lack of school fees. She feels happy that she is back in school like before.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After having great a great talk during the Baraza with the GiveDirectly officers, I decided I would buy a dairy cow when receive my transfer. When I received my first transfer, I realized the amount was not enough to buy a cow all at once. I decide to start small by buying three chickens at KSH 600. The reason I bought the chicken was to create wealth slowly, since the chicken will, in a few months, multiply in numbers. I will then sell some and buy a goat. When the goats multiply, I will again sell some to buy the Dairy cow that I want. The cow will be a smart addition in that I will sell milk to the villagers, since no one is selling milk at the moment. This will give me the opportunity to attract lots of clients. Besides buying the chicken, I spent KSH 200 to pay my grandchild’s fee as she was at home due to school fees arrears. I then spent the remaining amount of KSH 350 in buying food for the family because we didn’t have enough food to last us for long.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am yet to come to terms with the fact that I don't have a house and I live on a borrowed house. At my age, this has really lowered my self-esteem. My house collapsed 11 months ago and I have been unable to put up a new one up to date. GiveDirectly is the saviour and it came right at the hour of need. Receiving the transfers means I will soon own a house. I am planning to use 50,000KES to construct a spacious two bedroom semi-permanent house for my family. One room will be for my husband and I while the other room will be reserved for visitors who might come to check on us. My grandchildren can also sleep in this room when there is no visitors. I will use a further 30,000KES to buy two cows and an ox-plough for subsistence farming. I currently use the traditional farming methods such as the use of a hoe. This has proven unproductive because with a hoe, I can only manage 2 bags of maize every season. With the ox-plough, I'm assured of producing 10 bags of maize every season and this can sustain my family for a whole year.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The visit by GiveDirectly officers to my village brought joy to my life. I never thought it would come to happen given that most neighbouring villages had already benefited from the GiveDirectly cash transfers. I'm still happy because I know I will soon benefit.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Food insecurity is the biggest challenge I am currently facing. I have been going without food for some days because there is nothing to cook. The unpredictable weather patterns have made it impossible to rely on farming. It has been 23 months since rain last fell in my village. This has made life miserable because I used whatever I had to buy food. I have now exhausted everything and I only rely on miracles to survive.
