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 6:30 PM when I was sitting outside my house thinking about what we are going to take for dinner when I heard my phone vibrating. I asked my spouse to check where the message was coming from. On checking, he started smiling I suspected that there was some good news. My instincts were so right! It was an Mpesa message from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy and I remember very well that we could not afford to sleep that night due to the excitement.
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 now have a good number of goats that I am rearing in my compound. I resolved to them because they reproduce twice a year and their offspring mature very when compared to the other domestic animals. Therefore I am optimistic that within a short duration I will have many of them. They will purposely serve as the assets that I will rely on for my household expenses and my eight children's education. I believe that by the time they will be joining colleges, I will not have to struggle in supporting them. My dream has been to see my children getting a good education to brighten their future hence eradicating poverty.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my first transfer on paying fees of KES 8000 for my six children in primary schools. I was so stressed before receiving the cash because they were about to sit for their exam and I had not cleared the arrears. Also, I bought six goats worthy of KES 21000. They will serve as the assets that I will rely on in case of any emergency. Also, I had to purchase new clothes for my nine children since the previous ones were in a poor state and as a result, they were attacked by skin diseases. They are now healthier and relieved from all the suffering. With the remaining amount, I bought foodstuffs for my family and other household items.
Enrolled
access_time almost 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means a decent and spacious house for my family of nine. We currently live under an old structure about eight years old. The walls are very weak and the house might collapse anytime. My plan is to use KES 50,000 from the GiveDirectly transfers to construct a decent two bedroom house for my family. My children will have their room while my husband and I will have our room thus enjoying my privacy to the fullest. I will later use KES 20,000 to buy goats for domestic rearing. The balance will be spent on food.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My mother-in-law has been funny recently. I always spend my day around her and with her rib-cracking jokes, I always feel good being around her.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I have been involving myself in energy-draining occupations such as working in the sand mine or burning charcoal. This has drained my energy and I am no longer productive. This is the biggest challenge I am experiencing right now.
