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 was so happy the moment I received the first transfer that I celebrated with lots of excitement. I was with other members of the family who were also expecting the same as I am currently staying with my mother-in-law. I was the first one to receive the message, and on confirming its content. everyone was curious and had to also check their own. Everyone was excited as we had been anticipating the pay after enrollment. My husband was equally excited about receiving the news and he promised to come home soon.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Seeing all the construction materials assembled at my doorstep is a great joy to me. It has been so hard spending a lot of money seeking medical attention for my firstborn as she has always been affected by the presence of excess moisture in a room emanating from the walls every time it rains. The hope I have on seeing the new construction coming to completion has been the biggest difference in my daily life. I can't wait to see it completed so that I can move all my belongings out of the old house before demolishing it.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
With the first KES40000 of my transfer, I managed to purchase 20 iron sheets, obtained timber, and construction poles that are currently useful in the construction of my new house. It has been so hard for my firstborn kid who is currently 2 years old since the hut currently in a state of disrepair had been leaking both on the roof and also allowing water in through the crevices on the walls every time it rains. This had been affecting the health status of my child making me frequent the hospital visit in search of treatment. I am glad that the construction is on, and even though I am currently being hosted by my mother-in-law, I am hopeful that I will soon be moving into the new house. With KES 1500 of the remaining amount, I obtained half a sack of dry maize grains meant for the household foodstuff, sent KES 10000 to my husband who needed to do the motorbike repair as it had been slowing down his daily operations to earn income on the road. I am grateful that GiveDirectly gave us this support that had brought a great difference in my household.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
As you can see we have just a single, small ,grass thatched house. It acts as our kitchen and at the same time a living room. There is inadequate space for use . Our intention is to build a better house that will be our living room .The one we currently have will be used for kitchen purposes. We intend to build a 24 iron sheet roofed house. It will cost us approximately USD 300 and also we will equip them with furnitures and fittings that will cost approximately USD 180. Also , we would want to hire land for tilling so that we can plant maize .
What is the happiest part of your day?
Most of the time I do casual jobs. Other times I do abit of farming at home .My happiest part of the day is the morning when I wake up . I find peace and the realization that I have seen a new day .
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
When we got married ,we didn't have a house of our own .Our parents had given us one at the compound . It was small and so close to our parents and so there was no privacy. We had to struggle to build the one you are seeing now , though it is also small.
