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.
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be updated on Josephine's next check-in.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($516 USD)
access_time almost 4 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 7 in the morning when I saw a message notification. I was so curious to know its contents because it was so unusual to receive a message at such an hour. After checking, I realized that it was an Mpesa message from GiveDirectly. Wow! I had finally received my first transfer. I was so excited because I knew I will achieve a lot.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the fact that I managed to transform my house from temporary to permanent. Its previous was not pleasing at all. Its walls were weak and the roof was ever leaking when it rains heavily. It reached a point I even thought it may collapse and this gave me some sleepless nights. But again God sent GiveDirectly into my life and made this condition a history. Currently, I am feeling so safe and much secured than how it used to be initially. I will forever be grateful to GiveDirectly because it brought joy in my entire life.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my first transfer on buying some building materials such as iron sheets, building poles, cement, bricks, and timber. This was for the renovation of my house because it was in critical condition and almost collapsing. I also bought a solar panel which is helping my children at night in their studies and also for charging my phone. I then bought some beddings such as a bed and a mattress for my children, previously they were using the old traditional beds. They are now sleeping comfortably like the rest. The remaining amount of money, I am using it in buying enough foodstuffs for my family.
Enrolled
access_time 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means we will able to meet our family needs of food and housing adequately. With the first transfer, we plan to complete house repairs mostly the roofing which is damaged. The second transfer will be spent on buying a sewing machine at a cost of 18,000 shillings so as am able to earn some income. The balance will be invested in purchase of livestock such as indigenous goats that we can sell in future as need arises.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The best part of day is in the afternoon. I wake up early to prepare my children for school then leave for the farm. However, I leave the farm at mid day to make lunch for my kids and rest afterwards till evening when I resume other chores such as dinner preparation.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Our biggest hardship is loss of income. My husband had a good job in a casino in Mombasa a while back that earned him almost 30,000 shillings monthly. We had food in the house, my kids went to school consistently etc. Unfortunately, a year ago, he lost his job when the casino was closed down due to hard economic times. Things changed and we now struggle even to put food on the table. We had even started making repairs to our house but the project stalled due to lack of finances.
