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?
The unconditional transfers from GiveDirectly really impact livelihoods and give hope to the less privileged of facing life more boldly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Jobs have been hard to come by in these tough economic times making finances a rare commodity. I am married to one husband and together we had been blessed with one child whom sadly passed on. I have no job, so I assume the duties of a housewife and my husband being the breadwinner is an employed motorcycle taxi driver who gets his income from the amount he manages by ferrying people and goods to different destinations. Receiving the KES 3000, brought a major difference to our lives and really helped. I bought some food supplements for our home at KES 900 to last us for one month as the food we had previously was already finished. I was also able to purchase one goat for KES 1500, as I have always wanted to practice livestock farming. The remaining KES 600, I visited the hospital since I had been feeling unwell and was able to get treated.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($10 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
At the moment transfer was sent, I was just in the house. I had nothing special that I was doing then. I was overwhelmed with joy after confirming my Mpesa message. In my life I had never been given such kind of support. I was glad that out if it, I would be able to buy both food and utensils for my household. As a matter of fact, I will no longer need to borrow some utensils from neighbourhood in the event I have a few visitors.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
For the past one year, I had been longing to buy additional household utensils. This was not executed because I did not have any source of income. I had been depending on my husband whose income has been relatively low to take care od our families. With the transfer, I was able to buy new sets of utensils. As a woman, I feel life is now relatively better than before. I am so grateful to GiveDirectly for offering me financial support.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Since I got married last year, I had not bought any utensil. The one's I was using were old and very few for my household need. When I received my transfer, I spent KES 600 on buying additional utensils. I did not have money because my husband's bodaboda business has not been performing well for the past 1 month. Personally, I have been a housewife for the past one year. I also spent KES 400 on buying food since we did not have food at that time.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Selling vegetables in this community will be very lucrative. This is an opportunity I saw when I got married in July 2021. People in this locality walk for roughly 2km to just buy vegetables. I intend to start a small business selling commodities such as tomatoes, onions, cabbage, okra, and kales. With the vegetables being readily available, I am sure of getting a significant profit. The business will cost about 5,000 KES. When this idea materializes, I will have achieved my dream of self-reliance.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My sister-in-law bought me clothes last year December. I was very happy. I wore them on Christmas day and I was very smart.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am fully dependent on my husband. I have no job. My husband provides everything for this household. If my husband lacks money for food, I am forced to go hungry. Being a healthy full-grown person and failing to provide for myself lowers my self-esteem.
