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?
While sitting in my house sheltering myself from the unbearable sunshine, I heard a message tone from my phone. Since I am illiterate, I informed my son who checked and confirmed that I had received the transfer of $550 from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy that I wanted to ululate, but I contained myself because I was nursing my firstborn daughter, who passed away some days later. The happiness was brought by the fact that I had got something to start with for her medication.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The only difference that I can speak of is that, before GiveDirectly came I was very skinny. The stress of missing food, nursing an ailing daughter, and having no money to take her to the hospital was eating me up. I am grateful because the food I bought after getting the first transfer sustained us for a while thus I gained weight a bit not like how I was before.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
On the day I withdrew the money, I took $20 and paid the examination fee for my grandchildren who has been sent back home earlier before the withdrawal day. Thereafter I bought enough food for my family and used the rest in paying bills for my daughter who got admitted but unfortunately I lost her.
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
When I receive my cash transfer of 55,000 KSH I plan to build myself a bigger house, which roughly will cost me 25,000 KSH which will have 2 room one I will be able to sleep and one to host my visitors.
I will also buy myself some domestic animals which I can rear, 5 goats each at 3,000 KSH and buy 1 small calf at around 15,000 KSH.
I will not have to wait for my children to send me money, but at least rearing livestock can be profitable when they give birth and sell during market days.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My daughter who is critically sick, had been admitted in hospital for so long was discharged in after she showed improvement and this was my happiest moment.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My daughter has been ailing for about 10 years, she is suffering from epilepsy and stroke. We don't have enough cash to take her to good health facility, so I have to attend to her all the time.
Because of her critical condition, I cannot even do casual jobs, because my daughter needs my attention 24 hours and seven days In a week. Am tired because of carrying her all over, as she is a grown woman at least if I get a wheel chair, it could work well for me at least she could walk herself out.
