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?
It was around 6 pm I was just relaxing outside the house. I had left my phone, when I went back to check it out there was a message. It was confirmed that I have received KES 55,000 from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy because I have never received such an amount of money before. I knew I would be able to purchase the materials and build a better house. I immediately called my spouse and informed him of the money. He was so happy and grateful as well. He planned on coming home so that we can plan on how to spend the transfer. We are so grateful because GiveDirectly fulfilled its promise on time and this has changed our standard of living.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is purchasing a water tank. This has been my wish since we used to walk for quite a long distance to collect clean water for drinking. This was so tiresome. Whenever it rains there was no storage facility thus it was making us not top harvest rainwater. I have always owned a water tank but I had no money. Majorly I depend on small-scale farming, I plant vegetables and maize. This is mainly for consumption and whenever there is a surplus I sell to earn some amount to meet other basic household items. I had no other extra money to save so that I can buy a tank. We were being exposed to water-related diseases since we would drink dirty water. Currently, I have a water tank, whenever it rains we can harvest rainwater and treat it. We no longer get exposed to water-related diseases like before since we drink clean water. I have saved time that I could have used to collect water from the river to work on my farm. I am so happy because were it not GiveDirectly all this could not have happened.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 30,000 on purchasing a water tank. This is because I used to walk for a long distance to collect clean water for domestic uses. This was so tedious and time-consuming. Currently, I have a water tank and I no longer walk for quite long distances like before. I have time to work on my farm. I spent KES 30,000 on purchasing timber, iron sheets, and other building materials that were needed. I have to build a decent and spacious house for my family. We lived in a small house that could not host all my family comfortably. Currently, we have a better and a spacious house and we are so grateful. The remaining amount of money top up with my small saving and purchased a solar and battery, this is for lighting. I am so grateful because GiveDirectly has changed our living standards.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means that I will be able to improve my farming activities by investing about KES 70,000 on purchasing livestock and farm inputs. I am a livestock keeper as well as a vegetable crop grower. From this investment, I will be able to earn about KES 5000 per month from selling milk and at least KES 2000 from selling vegetables.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In the last six months, my milk production picked up after my two vows calved down. I am happy that I have had a constant income of about KES 3000 per month since that time.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest challenge is obtaining enough farm inputs to properly raise livestock. As a result, I end up earning only about KES 159 per day because of low milk production. This amount is what I live on yet my daily household expenses are about KES 250 per day. I would like to increase my milk production to bring in about KES 300 per day.
