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 had gone to fetch water at the borehole which is 10 kilometers away from our home. I had left my phone at home, upon reaching home at around 9 am, I received message alerts on my phone. My helper checked my phone and informed me that I had received my transfer. I was so excited for receiving the transfer which would transform our lives for the better. I immediately called my husband to notify him about the receipt, He was very happy and informed us that he would travel back home for us to make the arrangements of withdrawing the aid.
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 now living happily after clearing the fee arrears for my children. Previously, They were constantly sent home for school fees something kept me worried about their future. Currently, they are learning without any interruption something that had restored my happiness. In addition, I have livestock as an investment for their education.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I had desired to own proper beddings since I had been using a traditional threads bed which was uncomfortable. I was waking up with back pain every morning something that would ruin the day's performance at work. After receiving the transfer, I spent KES 10,000 to purchase a bed and mattress. Furthermore, I used KES 10500 to purchase 5 goats to boost my goats rearing. This is a future investment for my 9 children who are still schooling. I will sell them once they multiply to further their studies. In addition, I used KES 7500 to clear the term one school fees balances for the children. Also, used the remaining amount to purchase sufficient foodstuffs for my family.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means access to education for my children. I have a family of nine children. One is in secondary school, five are in primary school and three are still young. Educating these children has been very difficult for me. This is because, I depend on charcoal burning business to get money for my my family. This business earns me less than 2000 KES a week which makes it difficult to save and educate my children. This has made my children to be on and off school because of fee arrears. My ambition is to have a source of income that will help me settle my bills and educate my children. I intend to use the cash transfer to buy ten goats that will cost me 40,000 KES which I will sell to educate my children when they multiply.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My day begins at 4am. I wake up, prepare breakfast for my children as they leave for school. I then leave home to fetch water at 5am. I walk for 10 kilometres because we depend on dams to get water but due to the drought in our village, all dams have dried up and we have to walk to nearby town to get water. I then come back at 11am. I prepare early lunch for my children then leave for charcoal burning. I spend the whole day in the forest and come back in the evening. When I arrive home, I rest and then prepare supper. Seeing my children happy and in good health makes me happy. We take our supper together as we story tell and laugh which makes me forget the stresses of the day. This brings joy to my heart and makes me long for evening.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Persistent drought in the village has been the biggest hardship that I have ever faced. Over the years, I have been depending on subsistence farming. However, due to the prolonged drought, farming has been difficult. This made me shift from farming to charcoal burning just to make ends meet. The business is not reliable because there are no more trees for burning charcoal. The money I get in a week is less than 2000 KES which is not sufficient to meet the basic needs of my family. Upon receiving this money I will be able to rear livestock that I will sell when they multiply as an investment for my children education.
