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?
The moment I received the transfer I felt so happy. I remember it was around 9am when I heard a ringtone message from my phone. It was a message confirming that I have received money from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy because I have never received such amount of money before. My children were so happy too. I knew I would be able to pay school fees for my children in various schools and renovated my house. I am so grateful for the support because GiveDirectly has changed our living standards.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have paid school fees for my children. I depend on small scale farming and causal jobs the amount of money that I get through this is so small and cannot meet all the family needs and be able to pay school fees on time. I am so happy because I was in a position to pay the school fees. My children used to be sent home and this was affecting their performance since the lessons were on going. This was so demoralizing and stressful. I had no peace of mind to do my daily activities. Currently their performance has changed. This is because the had enough time to study without being disturbed. currently I have peace of mind and I do my daily activities well knowing that my children are happy in school. GiveDirectly has changed our living standards and enable us to educate our children. This is a big support and I really appreciate it.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent the money I received from GiveDirectly on renovating my house to look decent. I had always wished to do this but I didn't had the money. I paid school fees for my children and they were able to study without being sent home. I bought sofa set seats, pay hospital bills and used the remaining money to buy food and clothes. I am so grateful because GiveDirectly has changed our living standards.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means that I shall afford to own a cow once again. I will use approximately KES 30, 000 on purchasing a cow as an investment. Owning a cow means a lot to me and my family because it shall provide us with milk for consumption and sale of surpluses to gain income. Also, a cow shall reproduce, hence, my wealth shall expand. Besides, I will spend about KES 15, 000 on improving my house by acquiring some furniture and installing a better door. Also, I will utilize any remaining amount on buying some household items, clothing, and food since I have been struggling to survive with whatever I have.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening when I am sharing stories with my grandchildren. This is the moment that I feel less lonely. Also, I always thank God for blessing me with the "many" grandchildren to replace the loss we had encountered (the loss of my husband and son).
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I lost my husband in the year 2008, and also lost the only son I had in the year 2011. Such an experience act as the biggest hardship I have faced in life. This is because the burden of sustaining my family has become almost unbearable for me. I am a peasant farmer who encounters huge losses due to unfavorable climatic conditions in our area. In brief, I have been forced to sell all the livestock we had to educate and support my son's three children (and family). Also, I am supporting my daughter in educating and caring for her four children since she has no reliable source of livelihood. Overall, I still feel lonely and overburdened by the loss of my family members.
