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 remember very well it was 6 am when I was preparing breakfast for my children. Then I heard my phone ringing. I was a bit nervous, I then decided to check what the message was all about. After checking I realized it was an mpesa message from GiveDirectly.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life that I can proudly talk of is the fact that I cleared school fees for my children. This has been a challenge to me considering the fact that I am a single parent, and I depend on casual jobs. Sometimes they could be sent home and I had nowhere to get the required fees, they had to stay at home even for weeks. This was really demoralizing them and it was affecting their performance. Some of my children even dropped out of school because of the fees arrears. I am now a happy parent after making I sent them to school again to continue with their studies. It's like a miracle to me. I am assured that their performance shall improve and this gives hope for a bright future to them and their generation.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my first transfer on paying school fees for my children who are both in secondary schools. Previously, they used to be sent home to collect fees and since and I am a single parent and I had no permanent job sometimes I could not raise the fees. This led them to stay home for some days as I struggle to get the fees. I bought some building materials such as building poles and some pieces of iron sheets to renovate my house which was almost falling because of the weak walls. In addition to that, I bought a piece of equipment specifically for the preservation of fish. Initially, I used to run the business but then I used to borrow the equipment or hire from friends which were expensive. The remaining amount of money I am using them in buying some foodstuffs and clothes for both my children and I.
Enrolled
access_time 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
After being chased from my matrimonial home, i had to return to my ancestral home which was quite shameful. Receiving this money means I will be able to have my own place. I will buy a small piece of land and build a 3 bedroom house made of mud, iron sheets with strong pillars to withstand harsh weather. This might cost about 75,000 shillings. With the remaining part, I will start a grocery shop to earn income that can help me fend for my family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I love evenings when I can rest peacefully after a long day toiling in the scorching sun to feed my family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My biggest hardship is lack of capital to reopen my grocery business that was doing well before collapsing due to too much debt. I am now forced to work casual jobs that earn me less than 3 dollars a day which can hardly meet our needs of food, education and my own place to call home after being kicked out of my matrimonial home.
