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?
Being old and jobless I was in the house relaxing after completing doing my small household activities like sweeping. It was exactly 9 o'clock and my phone was on charge in co-wife's house. I heard the good news that people had received their transfer. After my helper checked the I was among them. I felt very happy and I jumped celebrating GiveDirectly for fulfilling their promises of sending us the transfer. I had to wait for my helper who was out for work to come home for him to go and withdraw the transfer since I already had plans on how to spent it.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in your daily life is that I am now sleeping on comfortable beddings after purchasing a modern bed and mattress. Similarly, It is the norms the most people are moving away from using the traditional beddings which are so hard resulting into back pain every morning. Furthermore, I have some livestock which I will depend on whenever I face any challenge in the future.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 8500 to purchase a bed and mattress. I had desired to own a modern bedding which is more comfortable that the traditional ones that I had been using. I also bought 3 goats for KES 9,000 a long term investment for my life. I will be able to sell them to cater for any emergency that I might encounter in the future. In addition, I used KES 5,000 to supporting my grandchild who is in secondary school by paying part of his fees. Furthermore, I used KES 6,000 to repair my bicycle which I had been using to fetch water for my family. Due to the famine that we are experiencing in our area I bought enough food with the remaining amount.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means improving my living standard. Since I was born ,I have never slept on a bed with a mattress. I only use sacks as my beddings. I will use 15000 KES to buy a bed and a mattress . I will also use 50000 KES to buy 20 goats as investment and use the remaining 45000 KES to pay school fees for my grandson who is in secondary school.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiest part of the day is in the morning. This is because I wake up early in the morning and make prayers before the day begins.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My work is to make charcoal and sell at Bamba market. In January 2021 I fell sick and diagnosed with chest problem. The doctor told me to have bed rest for one year. Since then I have been relying on my children for survival. My children are jobless and that has made me go without food for sometimes now. My health has grown week due to lack of food. That is the biggest hardship I faced in my life.
