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.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon receiving our transfer, our immediate focus was on enhancing our living conditions. We spent $170 to purchase iron sheets for renovating our aging house, ensuring a more comfortable living space. Simultaneously, we invested in building materials and barbed wire, spending $170 to improve the overall security and appearance of our property. Allocating $100, we acquired two goats, adding to our household assets. Furthermore, we secured our food supply by purchasing maize. In a prudent move towards the future, I saved the remaining $170. Our family, comprised of my daughter and me, has experienced a remarkable improvement in our lives, all thanks to the invaluable support provided by GiveDirectly.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The assistance from GiveDirectly has significantly influenced our lives, providing us the flexibility to use the funds based on our specific needs, a distinctive aspect compared to other organizations with more rigid requirements. Additionally, they imparted valuable knowledge on safeguarding our funds and protecting potential fraudsters. As of now, I haven't identified any areas that require correction, and I am grateful for the support and guidance provided by GiveDirectly.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
In the upcoming year and beyond, my main goal is to expand my farming activities by fencing our land and subsequently cultivating it, creating a barrier to prevent animals from intruding. To achieve this ambition, I plan to utilize my third transfer. Historically, this was a challenging endeavor as my livelihood relied on my children and farming, yielding minimal income. Nevertheless, I am optimistic that with unwavering determination, I will eventually realize this objective.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
18010 KES ($121 USD)
access_time 11 months ago
attach_money
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
We used $110 to purchase maize for family consumption and used another $20 to purchase beans for consumption too. Another $30 was used to purchase milk for the family as well. Because of the harsh climatic conditions it is hard to get milk from the livestock that we keep and it is for this reason that we resort to packet milk and cereals as well. I am happy that I still have the food that I bought and I feel I have relaxed enough over this period. I am so grateful and happier than I have ever been after receiving the transfer from GiveDirectly. It has given me time to relax and have a good time with my family, something that I do not take for granted. The little amount that remained of almost $20 was used to buy other household needs that we did not have which includes soap and clothes.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life and that of my family is that we are more peaceful and happy as a family. I no longer worry a lot like I used to do trying to make ends meet. I was in constant worry of where to get the next tree within my village that will help me make ends meet. The worry of planting crops in my farm and getting disappointed because they could not gibe me the much needed returns was mind boggling. We are just one happy family as we look forward to receiving the next transfer and use the same to build a better house. The house that O currently own is made of timber and timber frames and is highly susceptible to termites attack. This is how much GiveDirectly will change my life and that is why we are happy and very grateful for the support.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I had heard from other people within the village that they had received their transfers that day. I asked one of my neighbours to confirm to me wether mine had reflected in my account and he confirmed that indeed we had received the sum of money like any other person. I felt happy that we were finally going to be able to buy food among other basic household needs. For a long time we were relying on selling firewood and charcoal to make ends meet and this was such a relief to me andy family.
Enrolled
access_time 1 year ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Our biggest problem as a family is food. It's really hard getting 3 meals a day. Most of the time we eat once a day. During hard times we're forced to collect wild fruits and boil them for a meal. These fruits are seasonal.
We also depend on menial jobs such as collecting firewood. From selling firewood we can buy food. The cost of living is high, we can only collect $2 worth of firewood a day. This means the money cannot be enough for us. It makes us worried about our next meal.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Due to the high cost of living, we're happy when we collect enough firewood. The income provides us with food, which makes us happy. It's a joy sleeping and having eaten something.
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
The last time we experienced good rains was over 3 years ago. This has led to a lot of difficulty in getting food. It then means we must buy food as a matter of priority. The high cost of commodities means we'll spend the first transfer on food. It will sustain us for at least 3 months.
Our house is currently leaking, we need to upgrade it. We plan to spend $450 to repair it. Termites have destroyed most of the wood structures. It can easily fall at any time. We need to fix it. It will give us a comfortable place to stay in.
We also need to invest in goats. I currently have five. Goats do well here and are easy to maintain. They are well adapted to this environment. By buying an additional 6 goats, we can expand our stock faster to support us during difficult times. One goat costs $50. The remaining money will be saved to help us buy food.
