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 9 o'clock I was in my house busy weaving ropes for sale. My phone was with my helper whom I had sent her to go to the shop to purchase snacks for our breakfast. When she arrived home she informed me that she had received a message indicating that I had received my transfer from GiveDirectly. I felt very happy for receiving my transfer since I know that at long last, I will be able to renovate my house that was about to collapse.
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 am happy for receiving the cash transfer. Through the aid, I was able to renovate my house to a more permanent one. Currently, I am living in a better shelter and no longer have to worry wherever it rains. I thank GiveDirectly for the transfer since I would not have achieved such great development without the aid. My job of making ropes earns me very little income which was not enough even for food.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 32,000 to renovate my house by purchasing 23 bags of cement, water for construction, and sent aside KES 13,200 for payment of the labour charges. This is because my house was old, mad-walled and I had to refurbish it each year during the rainy season which is very costly. I had desired to construct a more permanent but I lacked the financial muscle to do it. In addition, I spent KES 5000 to purchase new and decent clothes since I was using old and worn-out ones which brought me shame whenever I am in a community gathering. I also used the remaining amount to purchase enough food for the family.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am an old woman and a widow who solely depends on selling traditional ropes for making traditional beds. When my husband died, he left me with one male child who completely forgot me as his own mother after marrying his wife. He even left the homestead and now lives in Mombasa town. Since then, life has been very difficult for me as I have to work on my own to get food everyday. I intend to use the cash transfer to buy two goats and two cows that will help me sell milk and even sell them after they multiply to get money. This will cost me around $600. I will then use the remaining amount of money to buy food and other basic needs. Receiving this money therefore means starting livestock farming.
What is the happiest part of your day?
As a widow and having no one to take care of me, it is rare to get a time where I can smile. The only moment I get happy is the time when someone comes to buy the ropes. Again these customers are not predictable. They can come anytime of the day and it is not daily. It is only that time when they buy my ropes that I afford a smile because I get some money to get food.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My biggest hardship that have I ever faced in my life is the death of my six children and my husband. I only have one child who also do not care about me anymore. This has been the stumbling block that has contributed to my low living standard. Being an old woman of over 70 years old is very difficult to work to get money for my basic needs. At this age, most of my peers are taken care of by their children which is not the case for me. I always shed tears when I recall this scenario in my life to an extent of questioning God of what did I do to deserve this kind of life.
