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 in the evening while I was on my way home from a relative accompanied by my helper when I heard my phone vibrating. Since I do not know how to read, I gave the phone to the helper to see what kind of message it was. What a message! I jumped up and down on and I thought it was not enough, I ululated in happiness after confirmation from the helper that I had received the promised $550 from GiveDirectly.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference is that, initially, I used to go up to two days a week without getting some food. This condition stressed me up because seeing my grandchildren who were somehow abandoned by their parents crying about hunger was not something I could bear. Currently, the whole story changed and we are happy because we get some food not like before.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The following day after receiving the transfer, I told my helper that I wanted to withdraw the amount so he accompanied me and I went to withdraw. Before returning home, I bought a mattress because I used to sleep on a torn mat on a small traditional bed. I did not buy the bed immediately because I am waiting for my daughter who knows the best timbers and I will use the second transfer to buy the bed. I also bought two goats for $55, some household items, and clothes worthy $30, and decided to use the remaining amount in buying some food for my family.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I lost my husband and my two children almost five years ago. I had to leave my matrimonial home since I had no one to take care of me. Coming to my place of birth did not give me a solution. I have been left to take care of myself. At the age of 72years, am forced to do farm works in order to earn a living. The transfers obtained from GiveDirectly will solve most of my problems(mainly ensuring continuous food supply for my two grandchildren and myself).I will spend KES 15 000 to start livestock keeping. Since rearing goats is not so demanding, I choose to buy two she-goats and one he-goat. Once they have multiplied, I will be able to sell and cover any emergencies.
What is the happiest part of your day?
December was my best and most rememberable month. It is during this festive season I was able to have a taste of chicken meat after so many months. The joy of uniting with most of my grandchildren added more flavour to my joy during that period.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Since I came to my maternal land, life has not been good. Most of the the times I take one meal a day. This has contributed much for my ill-health. I was advised to take a lot of fruits and eat at least three meals a day but this has not been possible since I have no money. I had wished to start a small project which could support my life but no one volunteered to help me. I have been facing the future with despair.
