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 at home relaxing when my daughter who is also my caretaker came to inform me that we had received the promised transfer from GiveDirectly, I was overwhelmed with joy, in that, I knew that this would relieve my daughter who has been running up and down to provide for us, this is because I am physically challenged. I am grateful for the support that has impacted our lives positively.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life today is that I am settled and relieved because I no longer worry about where my daughter would get money to take care of her children and me, GiveDirectly came as a blessing in our lives, I am grateful for the support that we got because it changed our living standard from where it was to a higher and a better level.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The moment I received my transfer, I knew that I would be able to improve my living standards, the house I was living in was not in a good condition, thus I used KES 20,000 in improving my house, I then used KES 15,000 in buying bedding and seats, finally, I used the remaining amount of money in buying foodstuffs.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am a single mother of 3 who is living with disability. I suffered stroke in the year 2014 and this rendered me disable and the only way I can move is by crawling. I have not sought proper medication because of lack of money. Over this period I have only relied on traditional medicine which has made the situation dire. My condition is worsening as I have started feeling tingling and numbness in one side of my body and this is getting me worried. Receiving this money will mean a lot to me as it will help me seek medication as well as acquire a wheelchair to assist me move from one point to the other.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Last month my sister visited me to check on my well being. I rarely receive visitors and her coming got me by surprise. She brought foodstuff like milk, sugar, cooking fat, etc. We talked at length and her words of encouragement gave me hope and made me realize that there are people who still care about me. This has been my single most source of happiness.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Being sick from the year 2014 has been one of the biggest challenges I have faced. I suffered a stroke and the condition has affected my mobility. This has caused my children to drop out of school because I can not engage in anything productive to earn money that can keep them in school. My situation is deteriorating because I have not sought proper medication due to lack of money. All that there is to do right now is to sit and wait for help from well-wishers to get me out of this helpless state.
