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 was busy at my workplace preparing charcoal for sale. It was around 10 am when I heard my phone ringing, It was unusual to receive a message at such a time. I was with my daughter-in-law who checked my phone and notified me that I had received my transfer. It was a joyous moment in my life and we together celebrated with my family members for receiving our transfer.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference is that I was able to boost my livestock rearing. I had wished to improve it so that it may be sustainable to replace the charcoal burning a very laborious activity. Nowadays, I am able to fully meet the basic needs of the family like food.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 11,000 to improve my goat rearing by purchasing 6 additional goats. My long-term goal is to sell them once they multiply to help me in case I face any financial challenges. In addition, I bought modern beddings for KES 11,000. Formerly, I was using sacks as beddings which were not comfortable. I was constantly feeling back pain every morning, I had the desire to buy a mattress but I lack the financial capacity. Furthermore, I renovated my house by constructing an additional room since the one I owned earlier was very tiny to fully accommodate my properties. The remaining amount assisted me in buying enough food for my family.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have for a long time admired living in a decent and spacious iron-roofed house but this has never been possible to me due to financial instability. Receiving this money will, therefore, mean realizing my dream since I intend to spend utmost 30000 KES of my transfers to ensure I construct a decent house. This will give me the freedom of welcoming my visitors whom I have postponed their appointments. On the other hand, I will also venture into livestock keeping to have a store of wealth, and with this, I intend to buy 7 goats for 28000 KES. The remaining amount will cater to other basic needs like food, nice beddings, and clothing.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The evening becomes the happiest part of my day because, at this time, I usually get enough food that I can feed my family. Unlike in the morning and afternoon hours when sometimes it is hard to get a meal.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The lack of a reliable source of income has been the biggest hardship that I have ever faced in my life. This is because I have always relied on charcoal burning as my source of income and the much I can make in a month is utmost 6000 KES. This income is very minimal and it cannot fully cater to all my basic needs like food, clothing, and nice shelter.
