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 was at the farm at home and I was busy clearing it when I heard my nephew calling unto me. I stopped to hear what he wanted to say and to my surprise, he told me that the people in the community had received the transfers. I was so eager to know if I had received them too. I had left my phone charging in the house. I hence left whatever I was doing and I hurriedly went back home. I switched on my phone and indeed I saw the SMS saying that I had received the lump-sum transfer. I was so happy and I called unto my wife who was busy outside telling her the good news. She was so happy too on hearing this because our plans we're now going to be fulfilled.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The transfer has brought a very big difference in our lives. We were able to expand the house and change the roofing. We now have enough space for all of us to fit in.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
We spent most of our transfer money on expanding the house that we have been living in and changing the roof. We have been living in a small house that is grads-thatched. The space was no longer enough for the six of us. We had always wanted to expand the house and change the roofing but we were not able to since it was requiring a lot of money which we didn't have. My wife is a vegetable vendor while as for me, I usually engage in doing casual jobs such that of farming to earn a living. The little money that we make from our income-earning activities most of it usually goes to the purchase of food and payment of school fees for our four children. We are hence grateful to GiveDirectly because they enabled us to achieve our dream.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Sleeping in one grass-thatched house with my children has brought shame and discomfort to me and my husband. We no longer have privacy in the house, this is worsened when visitors come overnight. With this money I will prioritize building a two-roomed house with KES 60000, this will bring us peace and happiness now that shame will no longer be part of our life. I am also struggling to buy milk for my family making me feel the pain of the high price of milk. Having our cow will help us milk our milk and feed the family well, this gives me the thought of buying my cow with KES 30000. My husband is also struggling to provide food and other basic needs like clothing for the family. To relieve him with this I will budget the remaining money for food and clothing for the family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My children were able to study well at school without being sent home to collect school fees arrears even with the little income we have as a family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The financial struggle has been the order of the day for us. We depend on casual jobs of weeding farms for pay to provide for the family and this normally earns me about KES 400 daily which is not enough to supports. This is the reason why we are struggling to pay school fees for our childre and buying food for the family.
