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 late at night when I received the GiveDirectly message. I was about to sleep when the message tone caught my attention. Reading that message at that hour was the best news received that night. I woke up my husband, who was tired and amazingly, he confirmed his phone had a similar message. We slept so happily that night and the next morning the entire neighborhood was happy because everyone was busy boasting about the funds and how they will spend it.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Providing food for my family is the biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving these transfers. My husband has been struggling to get casual jobs on construction sites and the charcoal burning business is not consistent in terms of the income flow. My plan is to combine my transfer and my husband's and invest in goat farming. Goat farming is one of the of the business that is profitable and manageable in our area. Its returns will be enough to educate our two children and at least meet some of our daily needs, like food.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Inconsistent flow of income is the biggest challenge that I am facing because of unemployment. I have been working as a charcoal burner and vendor which earns me a minimum of KES 350 per a small bag of charcoal. The cash earned is not consistent because of the tedious process of Charcoal burning and availability of the ready market. My husband works as a casual laborer in construction sites, because of the skills he has, his job is not consistent and with a daily wage of KES 500 it is next to impossible to execute his financial obligation as expected. I used my cash transfer of KES 700 to buy food and KES 500 to buy books for my two children who are still in school.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
We still have two children who are in school. As my husband focuses on paying the school fees, I will use my transfers to buy food and some livestock. I intend to buy one chicken at a time. Once I have ten, I will then buy one goat at a time until I acquire ten. This will help me keep busy and also get some profit once I start selling them off after a while.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My second-born son did well in his final year primary level examinations. It was a proud moment for me and the entire family. My husband has ensured that he enrolled in school. I am praying that he excels and goes to University. It would make me so happy if he did.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
With the scorching sun, I walk a distance of more than ten kilometers a day in search of water. I can only afford one or two Jerry cans. At the end of the day, I feel so tired. I barely have the energy to cook or clean. I am hoping against all odds that this situation changes. Some rain would help us but sadly, we have no control over this.
