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 in the evening when I heard my phone ringing. At first, I thought someone was calling me since I have not mastered the difference between the calling and the message tones. My helper whom we were just some meters apart told me it was a message and she came to confirm what kind of a message it was. This was the best evening ever! She informed me that it was the first transfer from GiveDirectly that had been sent to my account. I became very happy for receiving this amount of money knowing that the things that had been challenging me due to lack of money were going to be resolved. For sure, I slept very happily that night.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
For some time, I desired to keep livestock at my home but due to poverty, I could not buy any. I am grateful because GiveDirectly fulfilled my desire. In addition to that, if it were not for GiveDirectly maybe my house could have collapsed by now but I am registering my thanksgiving to the organization for it enabled me to renovate my house before I could count losses.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
For a while, I had been staying in darkness at night due to a lack of money to buy some paraffin. This state did not give me peace of mind since it was risky to be in the dark during cold seasons because it's a season that has so many snakes. Concerning that, upon withdrawing the money, I bought a solar panel and three bulbs for lighting at night for KES 9000.00. I also bought three goats for KES 9600.00. I preferred goats over cows because they procreate faster and they have ready markets since they are affordable. Thereafter, I used KES 10000.00 to renovate my house since it was collapsing on one side. For the remaining amount, I saved and I am slowly using it to buy some food for my family.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My house is in its worse condition, termites eat all the timber and it is not firm. I intend to buy new timber and fix my roof so that during the strong winds it may not collapse. I lit firewood at night to provide light to my house. This has always been hard for me to relieve myself at night. I will buy a solar panel so that it can provide light at night. I do not have any investment at all, this is the right time to do my investments. I intend to buy ten goats to rear and with the rest of the money, I will buy food to eat. I am happy to receive this financial aid.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I gave birth to female children who were all married far away from my home. I have always been lonely at home, in March after the schold were closed for holidays my three grandchildren came to visit me. I am happy I have company in my house now.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My health status is wanting due to my old age, I usually get backache every morning which makes me unproductive. The nearby hospital is six kilometers, where a motorbike takes KES 500 for transport. With my tobacco business, I can only get KES 500 per month which is insufficient to pay my medical bills.
