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?
Receiving the money was the best moment of my life. Such a huge amount was beyond my imagination and had to thank God so much for giving us another opportunity to rise again out of the struggles we had been undergoing in our family. I was at home with my helper when I received that message. Since he had the phone then, he passed it to me with excitement, told me to try reading through the pop-up on the screen, but before I did that, he was already confirming the content of that message. I was really happy and had to start planning to withdraw since the spending plan was in place.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life after receiving the first transfer is buying a lactating cow. Buying milk has been so expensive that I would sometimes go for weeks without taking mixed tea as I also had to spend on buying maize and other crucial needs that I could not do without. I thank GiveDirectly so much for the great support that has made my life with my daughter easier and very affordable.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
As everyone would say that children are a blessing in every family, many would also tell how straining it could be raising all of them and giving them all they need even when they are well-grown. I have seven children, six being men who are already married and in their homes while the last born is a daughter who is still in school at the moment. All the cows that I previously had paid school fees for my daughter and part of the dowry for my six sons. on receiving this first transfer, I had to obtain a lactating cow that cost me KES45000 as I needed to finally stop spending a lot on buying milk. I also spent KES6000 purchasing foodstuff for the household, a new dress worth KEs850, and used the remaining amount on paying transport costs for my daughter as she was traveling back to school.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
At my old age, I have always wished to own at least one milk-producing cow that will ensure constant income in my household. I currently depend on being provided for by my children now that I am no longer strong enough to engage in strenuous income-generating activities. $350 of my transfer will therefore help me fulfill this ambition. I also plan to use $150 of my transfer to build a granary. I usually store my threshed maize and other cereals in a leaking roofed granary which makes them get spoilt and unfit for consumption, which forces me many times to dispose them.
What is the happiest part of your day?
High blood pressure and other old and diseases comes with sleepless nights. Worrying and tossing in bed all night long is my daily norm. My happiness comes in the morning when I wake up to mingle with my family members and neighbors, an assurance that better days are yet to come.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
At 73 years, I am no longer strong enough to engage in strenuous income-generating activities such as casual jobs or farming. I fully depend on my children to support my household needs. I was diagnosed with High blood pressure 3 years ago and was recommended to take healthy nutritious foods such as milk, vegetables and fruits to keep myself healthy, hence I have no source of income, which is the biggest hardship I face.
