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 5 pm when I finally took a moment to check my phone after a long day at work, where phones were off-limits. As I unlocked the screen, I saw a message from MPESA, indicating that I had received money from GiveDirectly. My heart raced with excitement, and without hesitation, I called my mother and my wife to share the incredible news of the financial support. In that moment, I couldn't help but think about using the money to build our own house, a dream that I have had for the longest time.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference since receiving unconditional cash from GiveDirectly is our new home. Our previous house was just one room with a leaking roof, making life difficult for my wife, our 3-year-old son, and I. We used to stay in town because going back home was challenging due to the house's condition. Now, we have a warm, comfortable house of our own, free from leaks. It's changed everything for us, providing stability and peace of mind that we didn't have before.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used $120 to purchase 150 posts to start building a larger, more comfortable home for us. With $241, I bought 21 iron sheets to replace the small, leaky roof on our house. It was a relief to finally address that long-standing issue We have been staying in a very small house that had a palm leaves roof that leaked sometimes. Unfortunately, just before I received the money, my wife had to go back to her parents' home. I sent her $100 to ensure her comfort while she was away. With the remaining funds, I bought a bag of maize for $45 to ensure we had enough food at home during this period. Finally, I used the rest of the money to buy some clothes for myself since it had been a while since I bought some clothes and I needed to look good going to work. Overall, the cash transfer made a significant impact on our lives. It allowed us to improve our living conditions with a better roof and start building a more spacious home. Despite the challenges, such as my wife's temporary absence, I'm grateful for the opportunity to use the money wisely for the benefit of my family's well-being.
Enrolled
access_time 6 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
First and foremost, I want to use this money to build my family a new, decent house because the one we currently reside in is almost falling apart due to damage from heavy rains. To achieve this, I will spend $393 in total, put $300 into Watu credit to buy a motorcycle for business use and pay the remaining amount in installments over time, and spend $120 on four goats.The remaining $287 will be used to buy groceries, clothing, and furniture for the house.
What is the happiest part of your day?
After returning from town, I made the decision to support my family by starting a charcoal-burning business. Though business has not been doing well lately, I did manage to make four sacks that attracted a customer as soon as I finished packing them, earning $200. My family's food needs for a week were met with the help of this money. Seeing the happiness on my wife Neema's face made me very happy and restored some respect between us.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I used to live in town with my family and work part-time on construction sites to support my wife Neema and son. During the rainy season, the types of jobs that I used to do are typically unavailable. During the El Niño rains that hit the country late last year, it became more difficult to find work. This made it impossible for me to even make ends meet, let alone buy food, so I was forced to move back home with my family. Coming home meant beginning over, with no money saved up to even purchase necessities like food and clothing, and a house that is on the verge of collapsing due to the rain weakening it. It depresses me that I can not seem to build my family a decent house and give them a good place to live because of my lack of employment that has resulted to no income.
