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?
While cooking at around 6 pm, I heard a message tone from my phone but I ignored it and proceeded with my cooking work. Upon completion, I took the phone to check what the information was only to realize that I was delaying my happiness by not checking. Upon checking, it was the transfer of KES 55000.00 from GiveDirectly. I was the happiest woman of the evening because I knew some things which I was unable to do due to lack of money were going to be accomplished.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Getting a cow or possessing a cow is a miracle. Considering the kind of job of making and selling charcoal I do, I did not see myself getting a position to buy a cow. I am delighted with the support that I received from GiveDirectly. If it were not for this organization, I would not be having a cow, a bed, and a mattress. I would be sleeping on the floor yet.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
To count on GiveDirectly in my life, I opted to buy a cow for KES 18000.00. The aim of the cow was not only for milk and to act as an investment to sell of I am stack, but also to procreate so that the sign of GiveDirectly to be permanent at my home. I am also a parent of three school-going children. I paid KES 10000.00 school fees for my children so that they are retained in school without disturbances for proper studying. I also bought a bed and a mattress for KES 14000.00 since I had no bed at all and I was sleeping on the floor on boxes and mats. As of now, I sleep comfortably not like before when I used to wake up very tired. Having done that, I bought some clothes for the family worth KES 6000.00 and used the rest to buy some food for the family.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means an improved living standard for my household. I am planning to achieve this through livestock farming. I will utilize the first transfer to buy 10 indigenous got and 5 hybrids. As they multiply I will sell them at a profit and cater to the necessities of my family. This will also enable me to create an asset that is going to cushion me when in need, especially at this time when crop production does not do well due to the little rainfall received in our area. The second trench will be for furnishing my house with beddings and furniture as well as clearing my loan.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In the last one month I took a look and bought a bed and a mattress for my children. This brought me joy and happiness because they have uncomfortable due to lack of enough bedding and now that I have filled the desire my heart rejoicing. My kid are no longer sleeping on the floor.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am a housewife depending on my husband who is a waiter in a restaurant. His compensation is not sufficient for all the needs of the family of 6 members. He earns KES 2400 per week and a day we require KES 500 per day. Lack of money is therefore a major challenge that I am currently facing in my household. This has led to struggling in putting food on the table. Sometimes, my kids go to school without taking breakfast which makes me feel painful.