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 suspect the money was deposited in my account in the afternoon. I had taken my child to the hospital and a message popped in, I could not confirm what kind of a message it was since I do not know how to read. When I returned home in the evening I told the helper that the message popped into the phone while in the hospital. Upon checking, I was informed that for the whole day I was walking around with KES 55000.00 from GiveDirectly. I jumped up and down in happiness for receiving the first transfer. I felt like I was dreaming since the money was a lot at once.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference that I can attest to GiveDirectly is how it empowered me to complete the school fees for my secondary school child till he does his final exam. Initially, I panicked not knowing what the next term would look like because it is his final term and I had no prospects of getting money anywhere soon. I appreciate the assistance I received from GiveDirectly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
For so many years, I have been sleeping on the floor. Getting a bed has been a great challenge because what I get from the charcoal business which I rely on goes straight to the food and it is not even enough for that. I struggle to work from hand to mouth. Upon withdrawing the transfer, I first bought a bed and a mattress for KES 12600.00 so that I also enjoy sleeping well like other human beings. The second thing was to pay school fees for my form four child. Although he had no fee balances for the term I opted to pay for the rest of the remaining period till he does his final examination. Therefore I paid KES 15000.00. By so doing, I was averting a scenario where fees would be required at a time when I would not be in a position to pay thus destruct his attention towards the final exam. Since my house was very small and congested, I opted to add another room. Based on that, I bought some poles and rafters though I can not remember the exact amount I used, I managed to complete the room and as of now, I have a spacious house.
Enrolled
access_time almost 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I was married in a family where my husband has other two wives. With all the three wives, it is only one house with four rooms that is available. The house is now in a bad state and more specific is my room which is leaking whenever rains comes. It is for that particular reason i have been admiring to renovate this house because building another house will be very expensive and i have other obligations to take care as a mother. The renovation will need at least 20000KES and another 10000KES to buy a bed a mattress. When i finish all that, i must admit the joy i will have for sure will be on another level.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In January this year, my son who works in mombasa brought a lot of gifts for me. This day for sure was a big day because i had a lot of challenges and debts but my son helped me to clear them.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Food insecurity is what has been disturbing me for long now because here we normally depend on farming to get food. It is very unfortunate that for over three years, we have never seen enough rains that can produce food. So the family get very little or sometimes miss completely something to eat. It is very hard to reason us as parents and also for those who are still in school if you don't get food to eat.
