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 received my first transfer when admitted to the hospital because of the health condition I was in. My daughter, who had accompanied me, informed me I had received my first transfer. I felt joy inside my heart as the money was going to be boosted towards accessing proper medical care for my health condition. While lying on the hospital bed, I closed my eyes and thanked God for the miracle.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Receiving the transfer has changed my life. Were it not for the transfer, I would not have bought medicine and the fruits that have been essential in my recovery. I am happy that I got discharged from the hospital and I am currently back at home slowly recovering.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Few days before receiving my first transfer I fell very ill. They rushed me to the hospital, got admitted and after having several scans and tests, the diagnosis was a uterine infection. At the time I got sick I had no savings as I worked mostly on doing manual jobs. I fetched water for people and get paid, sold firewood and sold local brew just to make end meets for my family. When I got admitted to the hospital, I had no money to pay off the bill and when I received my second transfer; I was thrilled. With the help of my relatives’ contribution, I could pay the bill and got discharged. I then spent KSH 500 from the transfer to buy some medicine. Because of the seriousness of the illness, I spent the remaining amount on buying some fruits, milk and other foods to help in my speedy recovery.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means good housing and food security for me. I have been sleeping in my son's house for a year. This is after my house fell down due to heavy rains. From that time, my son has been forced to depend on his friends for sleeping places. This kind of life lowers my dignity. I feel sad seeing my son struggle while I use his house. I am intending to resolve the whole problem by building myself a new house. I already bought tree poles but due to lack of enough money, I am yet to construct the house. I will use the money I will be receiving to buy iron sheets, timber and pay for the construction fees. Once the house is ready, I will shift to my new house and leave my son's house to him. Atleast my son will settle and have a face in the community. I will then be saving the money to buy land. The land I currently own is approximately a quarter of an acre. This piece of land is not enough for us in terms of agricultural production. In a good season, the land only produces 90 KGS of maize. With a family of 3 children and 3 grand children who still depend on me, this amount of maize does not last us for even 3 month. I am planning to buy 2 acres of land. The two acres of land will increase the amount of maize I will be getting. Approximately, I will be getting atleast 5 bags of 90kgs per planting season. This amount of maize will be able to sustain us for almost a year. This will have reduced the challenges we face due to lack of food. Sometimes we skip meals. On some days, my children go to school hungry.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening when I spend time with my children and grandchildren after they come from school. Life is hard but when I spend time with them, I feel happy and become stress free for a moment.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The challenge I am currently facing is lack of money. I don't have any kind of employment that can generate a steady income. I used to buy and sell the local alcohol but due to lack of enough money to buy the alcohol, the business collapsed. Currently, I depend on my 3 sons who work as motorcycle taxi attendants ( boda boda). The income that they get is also not sufficient for all of us. In some cases, I lack money to even buy laundry soap. Right now, I have a daughter who is supposed to be in school. Due to school fee arrears, she was denied access to school. It makes me sad seeing my daughter stay at home due to lack of school fees but I have nothing to do. I have no money.
