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 8 AM when I was about to leave for my daily hustle when I heard a strange tone from my mobile phone. I was a bit curious and asked my son to check who it was since I was not expecting to hear from anyone. I was overwhelmed with happiness after he mentioned that I had received my first transfer from GivDirectly. I felt it was a dream because it was my first time receiving such a huge amount of money which is nonrefundable. Also, I knew I would achieve all my goals in good time.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
For the past 15 years, I have been experiencing lots of troubles and hardships that I never would come to an end. One is poor shelter, it has never been easy at all. The condition of the house has been deteriorating day by day and I was so worried that it would collapse anytime. It had weak walls and a grass-thatched roof. We never had peace during the rainy season and all we could do was to squeeze at one corner of the house till the rais stop. Also, my two children have been sleeping at their friend's houses and I was so worried that this would affect them negatively since the said friends never had good morals in the society. I had however been longing for our own spacious house but I could not afford it because my spouse and I could strain to make ends on the table. It is now a relief to us as a family because we are sleeping in a decent house that is spacious enough to accommodate us all.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my first transfer buying a high-density mattress that cost KES 5500. This was to replace the old mats that I have been using for quite some time as my beddings. It was so tough by then because I would experience lots of discomforts which led to regular back pains. Also, I bought twenty-four pieces of iron sheets at KES 20000, building poles at KES 6500, nails, timber at a total of KES 5000, and the labor charges at KES 8000. I had intended to build a new house because the previous one was grass thatched and small in size. Some of my kids had to sleep at their friend's houses who lived in the neighboring village. With the remaining amount of money, I have been buying foodstuff for my family.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I dwell in one room with my spouse and my two female children, this does not give me the freedom of doing other things. I intend to build a new three-roomed house with ample space to give my husband privacy. This can be done by 35,000 KES, with the remaining amount I will buy two goats to the rear and count them as investments. Water has been a problem in my village I plan to open a water kiosk and sell water to my village people. I will buy water tanks for storage and sell them at a higher price KES 20 when water runs out of taps. Revenue from this business will help me buy food and irrigate kales and spinach which I intend to grow.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Last month an organization (mother to mother) from Germany came to our village with a program of rearing goats and chickens to sell. I was given the privilege of being the assistant chair lady of this program, which gave me the joy of being honored for such a post in my village. Upon every meeting, the member gives us a seating allowance which enables me to buy new clothes.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Water has always been a problem in my village, I have to walk for 10 kilometers to search for freshwater to drink. Taps can run for two months without water and this makes us suffer and have no other option but to drink dam water which is consumed by cattle too. I feel hopeless about being married to this area. This dam water makes us sick and visits the hospital often for 1000 KES per visit.
