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?
I had immense joy at that moment I received the transfer. It was the best time of my life seeing such a huge amount in my account. I was so grateful, felt really blessed by the Lord for the promise that was finally coming to pass. To date, I am still happy with the results after putting it into use as it has changed quite a lot that I never expected.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
After receiving the transfer, the biggest difference in my daily life is the large water tank that I bought. It has really changed a lot as I am no longer buying water as I used to do. Currently, I ensured that it works under a lock as I make sure that I minimize the wastage since I will be fully dependent on rainwater going forward. It has made my work easier, and no struggles anymore in sourcing extra liters of water from the venters.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
On receiving the first transfer, I was so excited to make a lot of changes in my household. As a widow, I have been struggling a lot to see things moving which even though it has been hard, I have never given up on trying. This transfer opened doors for me as I managed to purchase a large plastic water tank worth 15000KES that is currently collecting rainwater from the roof. This has drastically cut the cost of buying water as I had been paying 20KES for one to deliver a twenty-liter pot. With part of the remaining amount, I improved the roof of my house to facilitate clean water collection, bought enough foodstuff with the other 3000KES, installed a solar lighting system which I am paying in monthly installments currently, I also obtained a new piece of furniture which includes a bed and bedding and with the last bit, I managed to buy some chicken which I am rearing in a small chicken coop I constructed a year ago.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means I will live an exceptional life. I have been aspiring to live a comfortable life by improving my house. I am planning to acquire a water tank that costs approximately Ksh 10,000 since getting water for domestic use has been tiresome because we get it from a far place which is approximate 2 kilometers away. I will be able to tap rainwater and this will save me the hustle of fetching water. The remaining cash will use it to improve my house. Because I am getting old, I would like to cement my house and get away with the dust that comes from sweeping every day which has affected my eyes and throat. This will also improve my deteriorating health which has come with old age.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening. This is because I spend most of my day doing nothing and no one around to talk to because other people in the compound are busy working on their farms. It is only in the evening that I feel relieved because my grandchildren who go to a nearby school would have come back from school with whom we chat with.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in life is a lack of water for domestic use. Since we experience prolong period of drought throughout the year, our nearby water pan sustains us for like a month and dries up during the rainy season. Owing to this, we are forced to go fetch water in a far place which is approximately 2 kilometers away which is both tiresome and time-consuming. Therefore, buying a water tank from the transfer from Give Directly will be a milestone in my life.
