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.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different from how it would have been had I never received the transfer in that my daughter can now go to a good school near our home. In the past , I used to accompany her in the morning since I feared for her safety as the road she was using was under maintenance and it was very busy with vehicles. I am now happy since I used part of my transfers to take her to another school near our home and she can now walk alone and I no longer accompany her as I used to do. I also have a sofa set in my house something which I did not had in the past and any time I got visitors I had to borrow a seat from my neighbor.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
My new goal is to start a new business where I sell groceries. This is because for a long time, I have been staying at home without any source of income and my husband have been struggling to provide for family needs with the little money he got from casual jobs. At times my family could go without food the whole day when he did not get money to buy food. Starting this grocery business will therefore ensure a constant source of income and I will be able to help my husband cater some of the family needs such as food.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spend my most recent transfer to pay school fees for my daughter who was joining another school. I decided on this because the school she was attending was so far from home and she had to walk for a long distance. At times, I used to take her very early in the morning as I feared for her safety since the road she was was using was very busy since it was under maintenance. I also used part of my transfers to buy iron sheets. I am planning to build an iron-roofed house in my rural home since the one that I currently live in is leaking and it is not comfortable to live in during the rainy season. I also bought a sofa set since I had no seat in my house. Whenever I had visitors, I had to borrow a seat from my neighbor and she was not comfortable with it.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
20000 KES ($195 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
attach_money
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
I have already spent the entire amount that I recently received on more urgent stuff, but with next two, I am palnning to construct a semi permanent house back at home so that whenever we visit, we don't have to sleep at the neighbour's which has always been the norm. I will also start a business for my own income so that I don't have to absolutely depend on my husband as I do now.I am still not sure which business I want to do though.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Before we received this transfer, there was no difference between us and those living in rural areas, only that we are required to pay rent every month. I say this because we were using a lantern, locally known as( koroboi) because we had no electricity. I also managed to buy some critical household items which have made my house look quite decent and I can say that I am living quite a happy life at the moment because I was able to use the money to sort out our rental issue, which was the biggest problem in our life.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When the money came, I was on the verge of being kicked out of my house because I had paid my rent for the past 3 months. I cleared the rent and even paid for the next three months. I also installed electricity in my house because on this side of town, you pay for your own installation, unlike other areas where the landlords do that.I invested the rest of the money on two goats which I am sure will fetch much more in a few years.
Describe the moment when you started receiving transfers. How did you feel?
When I woke up and saw the M-pesa message, I knew God really existed because I was going through a lot at that time, more so living with the fear of being kicked out of our rental house anytime due to delayed payments. All I could do was to kneel and thank God for His blessings.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
I will use this money to build a house in our rural home since we still don't have one and husband's financial condition is very low. After I will secondly use this money to invest in my existing business by adding more stock so that to ensure it becomes bigger and gives me good income. I will again use this money to pay for my children school fees and ensure they get good education since they have always been sent back for fees most of the times.
Describe your biggest worry.
My main concern is always about rent.This always make me even unable to eat since the landlord at times locks for as the door. Secondly my concern is always about my children school fees .Most of the times they are sent back for school fees or tattered uniform and I am unable to provide for them. Last but not list is about meeting my family daily needs like food. My income is s very low and my husband too does casual labor and doesn't have stable income so at times getting even food is a problem to us especially now that I don't go for business due to my two-weeks child.
What are your greatest ambitions?
To give my children the best education and to raise them properly so that one day they will do well in life and be able to provide for themselves.
Describe your usual day. How do you spend your time?
I have a two weeks child so this days after waking up I just do house chores and even do laundry. I still don't go for my business so whenever I am free I do have chats with my neighbors and at times reads the Bible and also sleeps because since delivery I lost much weight and feel weak so bed I do have rests and sleep.
