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?
It was around 8 pm When I heard a message notification from my phone. When I checked it out I couldn't believe my eyes. It was a message confirming that I have received money from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy because I have never received such amount of money before. It was one of the happiest evenings I have ever had. We planned with my family members on how to spent it. I went to withdraw the money the following day.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have purchased all the necessary materials and renovated my house. I bought the sand, cement and other materials that was required for construction.I cemented the floor of my house and currently I no longer being exposed to dusty related particles like before. I had always wanted to do this but I did not have the money. I I depend on small scale farming and small daily keeping project. The money that I would get from this is for basic household items and clothes. I had no extra money to invest on purchasing the building material. GiveDirectly had improved our living standards. Currently my house look decent and strong. I'm so happy because were it not GiveDirectly all this could not have happened.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 40,000 on purchasing all the building materials as cemented the floor of my house .This was my priority since I had always wanted to live in dust free floor. I spent KES 4,00 on doing the wiring and currently I have lights and this had enable us to do our activities well without being stressed up like before. The rest of the money I spent on household items and food for the family.
Enrolled
access_time almost 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I live in a house that has uncemented floor and for that reason it calls for regular smearing. At the age of 80, smearing the whole house is an impossibility because of back aches as a result of advanced age. I desire is to cement the entire house so that it can relieve me from unnecessary work. I intend to spend KES 20,000 from my transfer to buy cement, sand and ballast. Receiving this money will put an end to to the tiresome job of smearing the the whole house every now and again.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I am member of one of the churches here in this village. Last month people congregated in my compound because I have been missing in church for a while. They came purposely to check on my well being and I was happy to have them.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My husband has been unwell for a continuous period of 1-year. He is 90years of age and has been diagnosed with kidney failure and because of advanced age, he cannot be taken through the process of dialysis. As we speak he is in the hospital and we expect a huge hospital bill because he has been there for the last two weeks. I fear that I might have to sell two or three cows to raise his bill. Apart from my husband, I also have blood pressure and I spend KES 3000 monthly on medication
