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 around 5 pm while weeding maize on my farm when I heard a message alert on my phone. On checking, I confirmed to have received KES 55,000 from GiveDirectly. I was very happy and grateful to GiveDirectly and God for such a gift. Right away, I left the farm for the nearest mobile money agent and to withdrew the money.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is building a modern, spacious Iron roofed house which I desired for years but couldn't afford. I am also grateful because my kid's fees are cleared and they have grown up healthier than before.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have worked as a food vendor for the past ten years specializing in the sale of tea, mandazi, and there. From the income of up to KES 500 on a good day I would pay school fees in installments but this couldn't suffice. This resulted in piling up of school fees arrears for my two sons in high school. So when I received the transfers, I spent KES 20,000 of it on clearance of the school fees arrears.
Secondly, before, I used to live in two tiny grass-thatched houses and had been praying to God for an Iron roofed house for the past three years but there was no answer yet. So when I received the transfers I spent KES 30,500 on building a modern, spacious Iron roofed house. The money was spent as follows; KES 18, 000 on 22 Iron sheets, KES 3,000 on nine kilos of nails, KES 3500 on a durable wooden door, and KES 6000 on settlement of labor costs.
Lastly, I spent KES 3, 500 on a bag of maize and KES 2,000 on clothing. This is because, from my income as a food vendor, I could only afford to pay school fees and neglect other basic needs.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
We are heading to the sunset age in our lives and we have been struggling to educate our school-going children. I do a small business selling tea and snacks in the nearby town which is unsustainable. What I get as a profit is approximately KES 500 a day yet we have 5 school-going children and other household expenditures. That cash is enough to cater to all our basic needs. I, therefore, intend to clear school fees arrears which have accumulated to KES 20,000 and pay other school expenses. I was super excited when I learnt that Give Directly was coming to our village because I knew I will lead a debt free life and give my children better education.
What is the happiest part of your day?
None of my family members has fallen sick in the last 6 months and this has brought joy and happiness to our lives. We are facing tough economic times and the coronavirus pandemic period which has given us sleepless nights. Despite going through all that challenges, we are grateful to God because all my family members have remained healthy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Financial constraints have been the challenges we are currently facing. We have 5 school-going children; 3 in the primary level and 2 in the secondary level. My small business of selling tea and snacks is unsustainable and our one acre of land has become futile due to the maize necrosis disease. We are getting old and feeble to fend for our family of 9. I feel sad that shortly, we won't be able to fend for our family.
