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?
That day, it was around 5 pm while finishing up my masonry work. That's when I heard neighbors saying they had their transfers but had put my phone on silent mode. On checking my phone, I confirmed to have received KES 55,000 from GiveDirectly. This motivated us to complete the cementing of the floor of the house.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving the transfers is the building of a modern and spacious and Iron roofed house. This can now my family and visitors comfortably.
Secondly, through the transfers, I bought the latest clothing fashion for my family. As a result, my self-esteem has improved because I see myself at an equal level with even the people who were considered wealthy before in the village.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a father of four and have been living in a tiny 14 Iron roofed house built over two years ago. Because the house could not accommodate my family well I had cut roofing grass ready to build another house to act as a kitchen. But GiveDirectly transfers came right on time. I, therefore, spent KES 35,000 on building a 24 Iron roofed two-roomed house. This can now accommodate my family well.
Secondly, I spent KES 6,000 on two bags of maize. This will sustain us longer compared to before when used to spend KES 200 daily on household expenses depending on the availability of casual labor.
Additionally, I spent KES 7,000 on settling food debts. I also spent KES 3000 on the latest clothing fashion unlike before when we used to buy second-hand clothes.
The rest I have saved for household expenses. This is because I would only get KES 400 on a good day from masonry work and KES 200 from farming casual labor. This would only feed my family for a day or two.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am a farmer as well as a casual laborer within the village. I own a half-acre piece of land that was given to me by my parents. I try to maximize this piece by making sure that I cultivate a bigger part of it. I have a family of six members depending on me for their daily needs. Due to low rainfall and a small piece of land, my yields usually range from 2 to 3 sacks in a year. This is too small to take us throughout the year. I sold a piece of land two years ago so that I would build a small house for my family. I am happy that I have this structure though my piece of land reduced. I have a plan to build a bigger decent house that can comfortably accommodate my fast-growing family. This dream can not be realized with scarce resources and overwhelming daily household needs. To me, receiving this money means a beautiful spacious house. I am planning to use KES 30000 to build an iron-roofed house. This will be our pride in the family. I will be happy to live like my neighbor and have my children all comfortable at home.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I am the proud father of four with my last born being two weeks old. I always feel good to have my youngest son in my family. For the last nine months, I had been worried about how I would get my wife to have safe delivery in a health center. In the last two weeks, my wife delivered in the normal way. This was my happiness as a father. With the National Hospital Insurance Fund that paid part of the bill, I was left with transport costs only to cover.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Food shortage is the current challenge in my family. I primarily depend on farming to see my family through. I cultivate a quarter of an acre which is too small to have enough yields for our consumption. I harvest an average of 4 sacks a year which can only last us for eight months. I am left struggling to feed my family for the remaining part of the year.
