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 can still remember very well it was around 12 noon when I was taking lunch with my family, then my phone started ringing continuously. Without wasting time, I asked one of my children to confirm what the notification was all about. Upon checking, he realized that it was an Mpesa message from GiveDirectly. I had finally received my first transfer that I had anxiously been waiting for.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that the transfers empowered me to revive and expand my kiosk. Since this had been the only business that I depend on for my family's I was so stressed up because I had no idea where I would get the required capital for me to boost it. Some months back, I had decided to close it down because I had utilized all the capital and the little profits to send my children to school. I am so grateful to GiveDirectly for the financial support because I never expected anytime soon the business will start again. It's now doing so well and getting some good returns and I am able to meet my familys needs withoiyt straining like I used to do.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my first transfer on buying a few building materials which include iron sheets, building poles, timber, and nails. I bought all these with an intention of constructing a new house since the previous one was very small it could not accommodate some of my family members. I also boosted my kiosk business which was almost collapsing because I had utilized part of the capital. Since this was my source of income, With the remaining amount of money, I bought enough foodstuff for my family and some other household items that I was lacking.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means a descent and a spacious house for my family. I'll use 300 dollars to construct a two bedroom house in the village. This will sustain my family of four plus any visitor who might pay us a visit. It also means completion of my commercial house in the nearest trading center that stalled due to lack of funds. I'll set aside 350 dollars to finalize the commercial house so that tenants can rent. The monthly rent collected will assure my family a reliable source of income. I'll further use 400 dollars to buy two indeginous diary cows for milk production both for domestic consumption and for sale.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening. This is the time I take a rest after a long day working either in the forest burning charcoal or at my kiosk.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in my life is lack of a reliable source of income to meet my family's needs especially food. Sometimes we are forced to sleep hungry because there is nothing to eat. The small kiosk I own has been unable to sustain my family given that most neighbors purchase goods on credit and fail to pay in time rendering me hopeless.
