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 7 in the evening when I was making my bed when my mobile phone started vibrating very loudly. I was a bit curious since I have never received a message at that particular hour. Therefore I decided to ask my helper to confirm to me who it could be. Upon checking he realized that it was an Mpesa message from GiveDirectly. I had finally received my first transfer as promised by the officers. I was so happy knowing that I would soon construct a pit latrine.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that all my grandchildren are in school. Before the coming of GiveDirectly into my village, they could be sent home regularly as a result of the fees arrears. As their guardian, this used to stress me a lot considering that I did not have any stable job to facilitate that. I have however been seeking help from the well-wishers but this was sometimes in vain. This is to demotivate them a lot and even affect their academic performance. I am now glad they are now ins school without any hiccups like before which is an assurance of better results.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 10000 on my first transfer to start a business( selling water directly from the tap). This has been my dream to operate it but I did not have the required resources to fund the project. Also, I cleared school fees of KES 8000 for my grandchildren who are in primary schools. They have always been on and off because of the accumulated fees. I later bought some building materials such as iron sheets, cement, and sand. This was for the construction of a pit latrine. Previously, I used to go to the bush to relieve myself since I had no good latrine. This later resulted in an outbreak of waterborne diseases such as cholera. With the remaining amount of money, I bought foodstuffs for my nine family members which took us a couple of weeks.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Due to the drought we are experiencing in the region, the water pan which is five kilometres away and our only source of water is drying up. The water pan which serves the three neighboring villages has water which is not fit for human consumption. This has forced us to be depending on water vendors who sell a twenty litre jerrican at 70 KES which we sometimes can not afford due to lack of money. Therefore receiving this transfer would mean finding a lasting solution to this water problem because I plan to connect tap water from the neighbouring village which will serve both for domestic use and for business purposes as I will be selling to the neighbors around. I will spend 45000 KES on this project. Through this I will have achieved water security as well as source of income for my family of 8 members.
What is the happiest part of your day?
It was during the festive season one month ago when all my children came home from their work places for the Christmas and new year celebration. They brought me so much gifts like clothes and shoes. This made the whole family happy and I wished the get together party could be done regularly.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My right leg has been ailing for three months now. I have sought medication from the hospital but the situation is not improving. This has affected my normal duties at home as well as doing subsistence farming which is my only occupation especially during the rain seasons. Hunger is also big challenge to my family of eight members as we sometimes go to bed hungry.
