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?
The day before I got my transfer, I had taken my child, who had a skin illness, to the hospital. Since I was unable to raise KES 8000 for her treatment. The doctor could not attend to her and I was forced to go back home. The following day, when I was at home doing some house chores, I got the message that confirmed I had received funds from give directly. I was thankful and I felt fortunate as the money would not only uplift me but help pay for my child's medical bill. I rushed out to withdraw the cash and then took him back to the infirmary where he was treated.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
There has been a great difference in my life ever since I started receiving these funds from give directly. Currently, I am building a new home for my family and I for the one we lived in, was on the verge of collapse. My husband also went back to school to study carpentry so he could self-employ himself and I have been able to support him using the funds. Most importantly, my son, who was suffering from some skin illness, is now better and has also started school together with his sibling.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My husband used to work at a butchery which made him very little and meeting most of the family's needs was a challenge. My 4.5-year-old child was also unwell, he had skin problems where it would itch and become very painful. I took him to the hospital to see if the doctor would treat him but unfortunately, he turned me down as I could not raise KES 8000 for his treatment. The following day, I received my cash transfer from give directly. I took him back for treatment. My husband, on the other hand, could no longer tolerate his job, so he resigned and decided to go back to school to study carpentry in the future, he would start a carpentry business. To support him, I paid KES 25000 for his fees. Furthermore, my house was on the verge of collapse. I got someone to demolish it and I started building a new one using the funds. We also got to buy some food as we had none in the house at the time. When my child got better, I enrolled him and his 3-year-old sibling in school.
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I struggle a lot putting food on the table due to lack of employment. When I receive this money, my spouse and I will each take a course so that we can actively earn income from our skills. I will take a course in hair dressing while my spouse would like to take a course in carpentry. This will cost us around 50,000 KES.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I secured a job in the month of October as a casual in a tree nursery farm within the village. I work there twice or thrice a week. Though the work is inconsistent, I am glad to have the job because at least it earns me something small; 350 KES for a day's work. I used to be totally idle before that.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Last year in the month of June, my four year old son developed an allergy that has affected his skin and is now affecting other parts of the body. The condition is now worrying me. The doctor said that he needs a few tests but I have not been able to raise the money required. As we speak, I have left him in the clinic and will be going back later. I work in a tree nursery twice or thrice in a week and the money is not enough to cater for all my needs and still save for his medication. My spouse is just a casual worker in a butchery.
