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?
One afternoon, as I was relaxing at home, I received a phone notification. When I checked, I saw that it was GiveDirectly who had sent me $180. I was so excited and immediately felt a sense of relief. I knew that with this money, I could finally accomplish one of my goals. The first thought that came to mind was to lease a piece of land so I could start maize farming. It felt like the perfect opportunity to work towards improving my family’s future.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest change since I started receiving cash transfers from GiveDirectly has been the ability to lease a one-acre piece of land for farming. This felt like a dream come true because I have always wanted to start maize farming. With this farm, I can generate more income, which will open up more opportunities for me to develop myself and sustain my farming activities. For this, I am truly grateful to GiveDirectly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received $180 from GiveDirectly, I was happy and thankful, but I didn’t let my emotions take over. I quickly focused on my plan. I had always wanted to lease land for farming, but I lacked the capital. With this GiveDirectly transfer, I saw an opportunity to finally explore this venture. I used $120 to lease a one-acre piece of land, where I plan to grow maize. This will help me generate more income and improve my standard of living.
I also set aside $30 to buy food, as I had no harvest due to recent floods that destroyed my farm. This had affected my household, leaving us without food, but since buying groceries, we have had enough to eat, even without a harvest.
Lastly, I spent $30 on new clothes. I wanted to look different and have a fresh set of clothing because it felt like a new beginning for me. This support from GiveDirectly has given me hope and the chance to start over.
Enrolled
access_time 3 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
I have great plans for the cash transfers that I believe will change my life positively. For the first cash transfer, I plan to lease a 2 hector piece of land for about KES 15000. This I will use to plant maize in the coming season. This will be my source of money and also an investment into the future. For the second cash transfer, I intend to purchase five goats at KES 5000 each. This will be my investment since I don't have any livestock currently. For the remaining amount I plan to purchase building materials. For the third cash transfer, I intend to build an extra room in my house and also purchase some household items such as utensils which I don't currently own.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiness and joy always comes from the healing of my leg. I always thank God for his healing since I had suffered for many years. This really delights me and gives me hope for a better future.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Since the year 2013 UpTo 2022 I have suffered with an injury on my right leg. Even though this healed in 2023, it has made it difficult for me to do casual labor and other work that can enable me to vend for myself. This has made life really difficult for me since I wish I could go work on the farm but I can't. This really makes life difficult for me.
