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 8 am while I was digging at my piece of land where I planted some vegetables when I heard a message popping into my phone. Since I am illiterate, I took the phone to my helper for confirmation of the message that I had received. Upon checking, he informed me that I had received the first transfer from GiveDirectly. That information made my morning bright, I felt so happy that I left the work I was doing because all my thought were on the received transfer. This happiness could not be patient enough. I thought someone would come and steal the money from me. Due to that, I withdrew the money on the same day I received it.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Getting some food was a big challenge because I had no defined job. I used to prepare and sell charcoal, preparing the charcoals was a tiring job. I could stay for almost a week for the charcoals to get a customer. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for the unconditional transfer that they did for us. Currently, I sleep at a better place not like before when I used to wake up tired because of sleeping at a poor place. In addition to that, I get enough food with my family not as before when I could sleep hungry.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Initially, my living condition was unpleasing. My grandchildren and I were sleeping on a traditional bet with torn mats since the young grandchildren were urinating on the mats at night. When I withdrew the money, I saw it prudent to buy beds and mattresses. Therefore, I bought two beds for KES 10000.00 and two mattresses for KES 9000.00. I used one bed and one mattress and gave the other bed and the mattress to my granddaughter. I also used KES 1800.00 to renovate my house. I also paid KES 2000..00 school fees for my primary school. I also bought a solar panel for light provision. I was using the traditional kinds of lamps which was expensive buying paraffin daily.
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access_time 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My house's floor is not cemented and I am sleeping on the floor with a mat. I have been thinking of cementing my house but my earnings from my charcoal business cannot meet my daily needs plus having little savings to make my house. I have another business of selling sniff tobacco but it doesn't give me good earnings too. Receiving this money means I will cement my house, buy a solar panel so that I get light in the night, buy a new bed and a matress. I want to sleep comfortably and therefore I will be happy if I will buy my first modern bed with a matress.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I sold my charcoal last week and bought my granddaughter School uniform because she was chased from school because of wearing rags. Seeing her in a new uniform going to school is the source of my joy and happiness.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I sleep on the floor without a bed and a mattress, my house has earthen floor, and getting food also is a problem. I am struggling day by day to get money to buy food for my son and my grandchild. When I take shower in the evening, I have to step on the ground and sleep with the soil in my feet. I feel disgusted bringing soil to my beddings and this is the greatest challenge I am facing in life.
