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?
In my opinion, Give Directly does well by not involving the government bodies in sending the transfers. I am afraid to say that we would not be receiving the full amount of the monthly stipends that we are currently receiving from Give Directly. In addition, it is a great idea to carry out follow up after sending the monthly stipends. This encourages people to plan well with their money especially those who are reluctant to spend it well thinking that the money is too little.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Before Give Directly enrollment I was planning to start up a poultry project. I had already constructed the poultry house but I lacked the capital to purchase the poultry to kick off the project. When I received the second transfer, I spent KES 2500 on 10 poultry for keeping. I am planning to increase the number by 10 every month until I reach a target of 300 poultry. Their demand is high which encourages me to invest in it with hopes of getting a reliable income from them in a few months' time. I also cleared my children's KES 500 which they owed the school. I am glad they will have ample time for their studies.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($11 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was at home that day when I received a mobile money transfer message. At first I couldn't believe it because I didn't believe the transfer s wouldn't be send that soon. What a joy it was that even lasted for a whole week. I knew this was the begging of my new journey.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Honestly, I was really struggling to alone to provide for the family. I rerely had happy day because Life was full of ups and downs. Nowadays, I feel lol like I have a supplement income and I spend my days better than before.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Being the sole provider with unstable source income hasn't been easy for me especially coming from a dry area where food scarcity is a major concern. I am a father of seven children, married to a housewife and operates a local restaurant to provide for them. Averagely, I earn a profit of Ksh 200 per day which is very little to run the restaurant, pay school fees for my five school going kinds and provide basic needs for them. I had accumulated fees arrears of Ksh 2000 and my children were day in, day out of school and I couldn't afford to pay part of the debt for them to stay in school. My thinking was, with the monthly transfers, I will be able to sort out fees and other basic needs and this would give me a chance to grow my business. My firsts transfer of Ksh 1150 proved this to be possible because, I used Ksh 700 to pay school fees and Ksh 450 to buy food and for the last one month, I have had a chance to save more from my business. I'm so grateful to GiveDirectly for the financial support.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means revival of my businesses. I currently run two businesses; a poultry farming and a retail shop in the village. My poultry farm and my retail shop are on the verge of collapsing. Hunger caused by the current drought has made it difficult to harvest anything in the farm. This has made me spend the profits I get from my businesses in buying food. I went further to using part of the capital and that's why my businesses are collapsing. I am planning to use 25,000KES from the GiveDirectly transfers to boost my poultry farm by buying more chicken feeds and increasing the number of chicken. I will spend a further 20,000KES in restocking my retail shop so that I can increase the sales translating to good profits. I will use the profits from my two businesses to sustain my family and educate my children.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The news that GiveDirectly officers will be visiting our village brought joy in my life. It was the very best news to hear given that I was on the verge of giving up. I am hopeful I will receive the transfers and help in addressing my family's needs such as food and education.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest challenge I am currently facing is food insecurity. I am yet to harvest anything in my farm for the second year. This has made me spend more money on food at the expense of other development projects. This has led to the collapse of my businesses and I am currently leading a miserable life.
