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?
GiveDirectly plays a major role in boosting livelihoods and uplifting most people in the hard affected areas.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I was able to benefit from the GiveDirectly funds as I received KSH 3000 which I split into two; by saving KSH 2000 that I intend to buy iron sheets for improving the condition of the roof over our heads. The remaining KSH 1000, I was able to pay school fees for my child ensuring he receives the education he needs.
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?
It was a normal morning and I was in my farm digging as usual. I had left my phone in the house because it was being charged. I was so hopeless especially about Christmas plans. When I got back to the house, I checked my phone and the first thing I saw was an Mpesa message from Segovia technology. I was overwhelmed with joy. I couldn't believe it until when I withdrew the money.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I now feel settled. I have already told you that my husband and I are jobless, so we have no stable source of income. These transfers from Give Directly are like monthly salary. I'm assured of an income every month just like someone who has a job. It has made me to have a plan of building my own house from the savings I'll receive from the transfers. Thank you so much.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfer on food items, clothes and medication for my daughter. I have no job so I depend on my also jobless husband for such basic needs. The first transfer came in at a time when I was really in need. I bought 1 packet of 2kg maize flour at kshs 125, 1 packet of 2kg wheat flour at kshs 150, 1 litre of cooking oil at kshs 300, a half kg of sugar worth kshs 70, 2packets of yeast worth kshs 30 and 3 t-shirts worth kshs 300. My 9 months old daughter had a bad flu, so I used the remaining kshs 200 for her medication and I'm glad she recovered.
Thank you so much Give Directly because this couldn't be possible without your help.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Imagine sleeping in a house with no door, halfway roofed has got holes everywhere and then surrounded by bush, would you get sleep at Night? With the prolonged drought, everyone longs for rain. Even though I also want it to rain so that I can do farming, whenever it gets cloudy, my mind is never at peace. I do not have to tell you how badly off my house is, it's evident from just looking at it. Being surrounded by bushes and most are the times when we find snakes inside my house. You never know how scared I get every night when I get to lay my kids to sleep. I can say it's by God's mercies they have never been bitten by the snakes. Receiving this money means that I will save towards building a good house and we will live happily after with my kids.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Honestly, the last six months have been tough for me but the fact that I wake up healthy every day, I have something to be happy and grateful for.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Financial inability is the biggest challenge that I am facing currently. I am a housewife and I depend on my husband who is a casual Laborer. With the current drought, jobs has become minimal and therefore, he has been struggling to provide for us. It pained me some other day watching over my child who was sick suffer and I couldn't afford to take him to the hospital.
