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?
One day, my son, who helps me with my phone, came to me with wonderful news. He told me that GiveDirectly had started sending out transfers to people. Trusting him completely, I handed him my phone to check if I had also received something. He checked and confirmed that I had indeed received $200 from GiveDirectly! I was filled with happiness and excitement at this support. My first thought was to say a heartfelt prayer of thanksgiving, expressing my gratitude for this incredible blessing.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest differences since receiving cash from GiveDirectly have been in my comfort, independence, and security.
Firstly, having a comfortable bed and mattress has made a world of difference. Before, I was sleeping on an uncomfortable makeshift bed, but now I look forward to bedtime each night, knowing I’ll wake up feeling happy and well-rested. This simple change has improved my overall well-being and mood each day.
Secondly, having enough food at home has given me a sense of independence. As an elderly person, it’s difficult for me to go out and earn money. Now, I don’t have to rely as heavily on my children for food, which has brought me peace of mind.
Lastly, strengthening my fence has enhanced the security of my home and my small poultry. I now feel safer, knowing my chickens are protected and that my home is secure.
Thanks to GiveDirectly, I am happier, more self-reliant, and feel safer each day.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received $200 from GiveDirectly, I decided to follow my original plan, as I had already carefully thought about how to use this support. I spent $100 to buy a comfortable bed and mattress, replacing my old makeshift bedding, which had been very uncomfortable. Now, I sleep well and look forward to bedtime each night. This has greatly improved my overall well-being, and I wake up feeling happy and well-rested each morning.
I used $50 to buy food, as I am elderly and unable to go out to earn money. By stocking my home with enough food, I no longer have to stress or overly depend on my children like before. This independence brings me peace of mind.
The remaining $50 went toward strengthening the fence around my home, which had started to weaken. Improving the fence has provided added security for both me and my poultry. I keep chickens on a small scale, and they provide me with eggs. Thanks to GiveDirectly, I now feel safer and more comfortable in my home, and I am incredibly grateful for this support.
Enrolled
access_time 2 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
Since we are old, receiving the cash transfers is important to us because it will help us meet our most immediate needs. When we receive the cash transfers we plan to purchase enough food for us and our grandchildren. This is important since we will not have to wait for assistance from our children. We plan to use about KES 15000 on this. We are currently living in a house whose floor is made of mud.with the transfers we intend to cement the floor using about KES 35,000 of the cash transfers. We also have a challenge of having clean water for cooking and household chores. To solve this, we intend to use KES 30,000 of the cash transfers to purchase a water tank. With the remaining cash we intend to put it in the bank as savings for the future. This is important because it will enable us to meet emergency needs that may arise after receiving the cash transfer.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Our happiness in the past 6 months came from the rains we received. Our village had taken a long drought that lasted for about 5 years without good rains. However, with the rains we received in the past few weeks we were very delighted.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Our biggest challenge at the moment is old age. We are unable to do what we used to do when we were young. This has left us to depend on our livestock which is not enough. Also we depend on our children for providence which is difficult since they also have their families of whom they provide for.
