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 preparing a meal for my family when I got a message on my phone and when I checked it, I confirmed that I had received my first transfers which I had been promised by GiveDirectly. Before, I had never received such an amount and I felt so happy receiving such a huge amount of money. I felt relieved because I had plan to acquire a water tank but didn't know how to get finance to purchase one.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that, I no longer have to bother my spouse and family members to go fetch water for domestic use. Also I do not have to pay someone to bring fore water for use at home. The worries which I use to have were all solved by the transfer which I got from GiveDirectly. I am glad that this organization did an amazing work in our lives.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My first priority was to solve water crisis which we had, for me I can't carry water due to my health and every time I would depend on my spouse to fetch for me some water for domestic use or even pay someone to bring for me some water to use at home. I would only depend on sale of milk but when cows aren't lactating it would be tough for me to get to pay someone to bring for me some water. I chose to acquire a water tank at a cost of KES 21500 and fixed cutters for harvesting water at a cost of KES 5000. I also bought a solar for lighting in our home at a cost of KES 4000. The remaining amount of KES 24500, I spent on buying some clothes for my family members and some foodstuffs. I am happy that I have enough container for storing water and that has brought me joy.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I will be really happy if I receive the transfer from GiveDirectly. I have a difficulty in seeing and walking. The difficulty in walking renders me helpless in terms of water fetching from the nearest river. I could wish I had a 10000 litres water tank to ease this hardship. My recently built living house is incomplete and it falls under my concerns. I also pay school fees for my two children in secondary schools. I am much overwhelmed with joy because the amount will really help to settle the narrated concerns.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In the past 6 months range period, I harvested 3 bags of maize unlike the previous year where I had no harvests at all due to crop diseases. Since the harvests, my family have been having enough food and my peace of mind prevailed. I am really optimistic with the transfer and I am certain some of my plans will succeed.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Currently I am facing a huge school fees burden of KES. 30000 per year and my place of residence (Chepalungu) is oftenly hit by unfavorable weather conditions. I also feel that the situation of my leg is worsening and I really have hard time to do my daily chores such as cooking, fetching firewood and water, as well as feeding my cattles. I am glad because with the receipt of the transfer, I will be able to buy a water tank and fetch rain water.
