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 9:00 a.m. when I received a message from GiveDirectly that brightened my whole day. It was bearing the great news of the first transfer that I had enrolled for in the past three weeks. At that moment I was with my brother who had also received the same message. I had to rush and inform my other family members who had gone to the farm. We celebrated together, thanked God, and planned on collecting it the following day in the nearby shopping center.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the construction of a new house that is now complete. I am excited that we are soon moving out of the old structure that is so small that it could not accommodate all my family members as my children have always been seeking a space in their grandmother's house. The old house will soon be renovated as well so that other children can spend their night in there while others will be using an extra room in the old house. I am thankful to GiveDirectly for the great support that has brought great changes in our household within a very short period.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After the great day that was marked by celebrations in the whole village, I woke up very early the following day to visit the immediate shopping center where I withdrew the full amount that I had received from GiveDirectly. It was unbelievable holding such a huge amount as it was the first time in y life owning such a lump sum. With me was a list of all that we had planned with my family to spend on. At the top of my list was the construction of a new house and had to purchase enough iron sheets on the same day before going back home. I bought 24 iron sheets, nails, and paid the transport cost that took the whole load home. I am glad now that the construction is complete after spending KES 30000 on all the purchases and the labor cost and will soon be moving out of the small structure that has accommodated my family of six for such a long time. I also obtained a new piece of furniture at KES 15000, a sack of dry maize grains for foodstuff at KES3000, clothes for some household members worth KES 5000, and saved the remaining amount to check on any exhaustion in the household goods.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I live in a single house that I use to do everything including cooking and sleeping. The house is small and cannot accommodate many people. When my family members come visiting am forced to go to my in-laws and ask for a place where my relatives will spend a night. I feel so bad about it and it's very uncomfortable being a grown up man without a proper house. I intend to use KES 40, 000 to build a two bedroom house which will act as a main house. The remaining amount I will spend KES 30, 000 to buy two heifers, buy beddings and clothing's for myself.
What is the happiest part of your day?
With the increasing Rainfall over the last 6 months, I have manged to get casual jobs more often than before. This is because people have started to prepare farm's and planting of crops is taking place hence I get jobs to do. At the end of the day I manage to get up to KES 270 which takes me along way in terms of foodstuffs and clothing's.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of finance is the challenge I face currently. I depend mostly in casual jobs. Casual jobs goes are not readily available in the village, Today you get, tommorow you do not. This means that you will not have money most times in a week and to have foodstuffs you need money. Most of the time I am forced to sleep hungry since I can not afford daily meal's or 3 meals in a day.
