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 such a joyful moment in our family when we received the message from GiveDirectly showing that we have received the transfer. I vividly remember It was around 7 am when I had just woken up preparing to take our goats for grazing. I was with my spouse at home, when the message popped up on the phone. I informed him and called the helper to confirm the account balance. We were very sure that will finally accomplish our long-term goals.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Constructing a spacious and respectable house for the family is the biggest difference in our life. Earlier, we were residing in an old leaking house. In addition, we are currently happy we are spending our nights in comfortable bedding with the rest of the family members. A great transformation that we had longed for since we got married many years ago.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent most of my transfer constructing a specious decent shelter for my family. This is because the house that we were initially residing in was small, old, and with rusty iron sheets which had started to leaking. I bought the required building materials such as irony sheets, timbers, a door, and nails. In addition, I purchased 2 beds and 2 mattresses. Previously, we were using old traditional thread beds which were not comfortable and required constant repair by replacing the threads which are had to get nowadays. I also bought new clothes for every member of my family which costs a total of KES 10,000. This is because we did not have nice clothes that I could wear whenever we attend community functions. Lastly, I bought sufficient food for the family because of the ongoing famine in our area.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Two years ago, I was waken up by the sound of rowdy water flowing under our bed. Little did we know it was floods which ended up sweeping away the house and all our belongings. My husband and I were left homeless for over six months untill our son build a 2m by 3m house which currently serves for both dwelling and a store. Being old and jobless has left us long to build a better structure in vain. It is with joy that upon receiving our transfers, we will erect a two-bedroom iron-roofed house which will cost approximately 60 000 KSH. We will set aside 10 000KSH for purchasing a bed and a mattress and the rest of the money will support us in medication and food.
What is the happiest part of your day?
It has been almost half a decade since I last put on a new attire. It was memorable moments when I received a dress and a pair of shoes from my son who happen to have gotten employment in town. I felt so honered (I almost got to bed with the shoes on).
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I sleep in my son's kitchen since our current house is small without a door shutter and lacks a bed. I relocated into the kitchen after developing breathing complications majorly contributed by sleeping on the dusty ground.The kitchen is not a safer place since am still affected by smoke. With no one to support me in building a house, I have found myself living in an unhealthy environment without the hope of a better future.
