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 10 am and I was busy preparing myself to go to the shops to go open my business of selling some foodstuffs such as porridge. I heard my phone ringing in my pocket and I decided to have a look at it. I was filled with so much joy when I saw that it was an SMS saying that I had received KES 55000 on my phone just as GiveDirectly had promised. With so much excitement, I called my son whom I had listed as my helper and I informed him the good news. He was so happy to hear this and he hurriedly went back home to check his phone too. He came out celebrating telling me that he had received the money too. We became so happy that I almost forgot where I was heading to.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference that the transfer has brought into my life and that of my family is that my children now have milk for their consumption and I no longer incur the cost of buying some. I was also able to pay part of my children's school fees and hence they are no longer being sent home due to failure to pay the arrears. Other than the above, I bought new clothes for my children and some chairs. My children are thus happy having gotten new clothes and we now have something to sit on and relax in the house.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent most of the money that I got in buying a cow. I didn't have a cow and I have been longing to have one because of the burden of buying milk everyday. This is costly to me considering the fact that I depend on my small business to earn some income. The money that I get from it, most of it usually goes to the payment of school fees for my two children and buying food and milk. I have thus not been in a position to own one.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I don't own a cow now, this has made my life hard and expensive now that I buy milk daily. This money allows me to buy one with KES 30000, I have a small grocery business that helps me earn some income, with this money I will add KES 20000 to my business as capital which will, in turn, help me earn more profit and income. My son has been sleeping with his elder brothers since I don't have enough money to build him his room. With this money, I will plan KES 30000 to build him a house as it will give him peace of mind and do his evening homework at home without any disturbance. The remaining KES 20000 I will use to renovate my house.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The evening is the happiest part of the day for me, this is the time I would come home from my business with some little cash and food for the family. I am happy now that we have something to eat and clear bills.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
With my small business, I earn little income which is not sufficient for me to provide basic needs for the family. This makes me struggle to provide food for the family making us even skip meals or use less proffered meals like ( tea with sweet potatoes for supper).
