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 had already retired to bed when I heard my phone ringing, upon checking I saw a Mpesa message showing that I had received a sum of KES 55,000, I was overwhelmed with joy, I immediately jumped out of bed with happiness, I was relieved because I knew that I will be able to complete my house which was left halfway before due to financial constraints.
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 psychologically settled, I no longer worry about where I will look for funds to complete my house, I was unable to build the house before due to financial constraints, I am so grateful for the support that lifted my living standards amazingly,
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The transfer came at a very crucial time in my life, I had started constructing a house before, but I was unable to complete it due to financial constraints, I am a mother of four children and a farmer, Upon receiving my transfer I used KES 37,000 in house completion, I then used the remaining part of the transfer in buying furniture, foodstuffs and clothes, I am happy that my house is now decent, unlike before, I am so humbled for the support that changed my living standard.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money relates to a complete project which had stalled for more than a year now. During the coronavirus pandemic period, my husband lost his job yet we had started building another house which has stalled due to financial inadequacies. My husband was employed in the nongovernmental organization in the city on a contract basis but this came to an end due to the pandemic. When I heard that GiveDirectly was coming to our village, I was filled with joy knowing that we will accomplish our project. With an estimated cost of KES 85,000, we intend to finalize building it and lead a decent life.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In the past 5 months, we have been blessed with a baby girl in our family which has brought joy and happiness to our lives. Giving birth to a healthy child with safe delivery is what we give thanks to God. I a now a proud mother to 4 healthy children and our wish is to fulfill their future dreams by according them a better education.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of a stable source of income in the family is the challenge we are currently facing. Since my husband lost his job during the coronavirus pandemic, he has not secured a stable job that is well paying. He is currently a volunteer in the Kenya Red-cross getting field allowances only leaving us to rely on unsustainable farming. Farming is unsustainable because of a prolonged period of drought and maize necrosis disease which affected our maize plantation for almost 10 years ago. We feel so much demoralized because we lack stable sources of income.
