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?
Receiving the first transfer came with great joy which not only saw me happier than ever but also gave me a sense of gratefulness. Such a favor has never fallen on me before and it became clear that it was also the first time for every other family member. It dawned on me that the awaited chance to make changes in our household was finally with us.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Our living standard over the last few weeks has really improved. Over a long time now, we had been trying our best and working hard to obtain what we have been able to achieve in just one month after the transfer. This has been the biggest difference in my life. Waking up every morning and seeing new structures getting erected is a reason big enough to be grateful for. I am glad that I am finally completing the construction of the two houses and soon, I will be enjoying new, spacious, and decent living rooms.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Living in a small house which we have been treating as the main house and a grass-thatched kitchen which had always leaked has never been that good, receiving the money was a relief and a start of a change. With the transfers, I purchased 40biron sheets, woods, and other construction materials enough for both the Kitchen and the main house. I also spent 8000KES on labor costs and later spent the remaining amount on purchasing foodstuff for my household.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Since I am a relatively aged person with grandchildren and many relatives and visitors, I should be having a larger house that can accommodate anyone who visits me. Currently I am residing in a small house whose sitting room is hardly enough for five people. Hence, receiving this money means that I shall manage to expand my room, especially the sitting room. Accordingly, I will be able to welcome and host more visitors.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My day ia usually packed with lots of activities including household chores, farming tasks and handling my small business of trading on milk. As such, the happiest part of my day is in the evening when I am taking some rest after accomplishing the tiresome tasks. This is the time that I review how my day was while interacting with my grandchildren.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
As a subsistence farmer, the biggest hardship I have faced in life is the recent Maize Lethal Necrosis disease that is destroying our crops. Although a certain NGO has provided us with water for irrigation, we are yet to get remedy for the disease. Of late, we are experiencing shortage of food items. Since farming is our main source of livelihood, the destruction of our crops by the disease has attracted adverse consequences.
