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 can still vividly remember just like yesterday at around 6: 30 when I was preparing my children for school. My phone rang continuously, I then decided to check who it could be. After checking I confirmed it was an mpesa message from GiveDirectly. They had finally debited my first transfer as promised. I was overwhelmed with joy I wish you could see how I reacted.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Having have constructed the two semi-permanent houses for my children has made my daily life to be so different. This is because my house as very small it could not accommodate us all, considering all my children are now grown-ups. In our culture, it is taboo to share a house with your children when they are matured. This made them seek shelter from their friends and relatives. They were always frustrated and this issue really stressed me as a parent. After receiving my first transfer, I decided to prioritize the houses. I am now a happy parent because my children no longer seek shelters from house to house as they used to do. This had brought up joy in my life because I never expected it anytime soon. My children are also grateful and happy each and every time because they now have a permanent place to shelter on.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my first transfer on buying some building materials such as iron sheets, timber, nails, and some building poles. This was purposely for the construction of some two new houses for my children. Previously we used to share the same house and some of my children used to seek shelter from friends. I then bought some goats to rear them since I have been yearning to own. The fact that the goats reproduce faster and their food is readily available, motivated me to keep them. I then cleared school fees for my children who are still in primary school so that they can study without being bothered like before with the issue of fees. The remaining amount of money, I bought some new clothes for my children and bought some sufficient foodstuffs.
Enrolled
access_time over 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means a better future for children. At the moment, my husband and I have been struggling to keep them in school because the little money we get from manual jobs and sale of farm produce is hardly enough to cater for all the needs.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Evening is the happiest part of the day. My day is normally backed with activities and by the time the day is ending, I am already exhausted and this is the moment when I take a break from tedious activities and rest.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of sustainable sources of income has been the biggest hardship in my life. And as a result, our children have not been able to consistently stay in school due to lack of school fees. This has affected their performances over time.
