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?
I clearly remember the date. It was on the 16th of March at around 6 am after milking cows in the milking shed. When I returned home that's when my kids informed me that my phone had rung. On checking, I had received KES 55,000 from GiveDirectly. At the sight of the good news, I was very happy and withdrew the next day.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving the transfers is the availability of money for my medication. I am grateful because GiveDirectly transfers helped me get quality medication that I could not
otherwise afford. Were it not for GiveDirectly I would have relied on well-wish for or my medication.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a mother of five and a water vendor for the past 10 years. From this, I normally get up to KES 200 a day which is majorly spent on household expenses.
Not long after receiving the transfers, I became sick and the diagnosis showed that I had a blood shortage hence the need for more blood in my body. I was therefore forced to spend KES 35, 000 of the transfers on my medication.
Secondly, I spent KES 14,000 on two goats. This is because they grow fast and can be sold later for a dairy cow.
Thirdly, I spent KES 4000 on a bag of maize which can sustain me for the next two months. Initially, my household budget was KES 400 but has currently been reduced.
The rest I have saved for food purposes. This is because after my diagnosis I am required to eat special diets which are quite costly.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am a single mother of 4 school-going children. I fend for them alone which is a tall order since I depend on casual jobs of fetching and carrying water for use in the hotels in the nearby Chebunyo market. I get paid KES 20 per 20-liter container. On a good day, I get up to KES 200 which I used to buy household items and foodstuff but other days I do not get these jobs, especially during raining season. Life has not been easy, I have lived a life of hopelessness and destitution. All along I have desired to buy a dairy cow but due to lack of finance, it has not been possible. Receiving this money will put a smile on my face, I intend to buy a dairy cow worth KES 40000. This will boost me a lot in terms of being food sufficient as I will get milk and sell the surplus to get disposable income. I will use the rest of the money to buy school uniforms for my children.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In January there was less rainfall and so the hotel business owners could not harvest rain water for use. It was a blessing in disguise for me since I was getting casual jobs of fetching water for them at Chebunyo dam for KES 20 per 20 liters container. I could get more money than other months, up to KES 300 per day as compared to the moment when I hardly make KES 100. I was overjoyed since I could buy enough food for my family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I have a sickly child. I have not been able to give her the best health care because of a lack of finances. She has swelling in her right leg that has rendered her disabled. She walks with a lot of difficulty and she takes time to reach school. I was advised to purchase a wheelchair to assist her in the movement but it has not been possible because I have no means of raising the required amount. This has given me a lot of stress and I always pray to God to help her situation.
