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 exactly at 9 am, I was on my way going to the nearest water pan to fetch water for the household with the helper. I heard a loud message ringtone on my phone. I had passed my phone to my helper to check its content. I was very excited after she break the good news that I had received my transfer. I was anxious to reach home to notify the rest of my family about the same. We together rejoiced and thank GiveDirectly for the transfer.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I was to able to boost my livestock rearing a reliable source of income for my family. In addition, I have a future investment in the education of my children. I am assured that they will be able to attend classes without any interruption. Furthermore, I was able to clear the fee arrears for the children.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfer to clear fee arrears for my 4 children who are still schooling amounting to KES 5,400. In addition, I used KES 20,000 to boost the goats rearing activity. My long-term goal is to assist me in educating the kids up to a higher level of education when they grow up. Furthermore, I spent KES 2,000 to purchase new school uniforms for the children since they were going to school with old and worn-out clothes. I also spent KES 3500 to purchase enough food for the family because of the persistent drought and famine that we are experiencing in our area. I save the remaining amount for any emergency that might arise in the future.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means a spacious and a furnished house for my family. For over a decade now, I have been struggling in as far as shelter is concerned. We have been forced to share a one bedroom house that is not enough for my big family of eight. immediately I receive this transfer from GiveDirectly, I am planning to use 400 dollars to construct a new two bedroom house for my family. I will use a further 200 dollars to renovate my current house and leave it for my children. I will use a further 200 dollars to furnish both houses and doing all this will make me happy because I will have achieved all that I wanted to achieve.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening. This is because my children will be out of school and I am always happy whenever I mingle with my them.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship in my life has been living under a pathetic house with a leaking roof and cracking walls. I always leave in fears because this house might collapse anytime. During the rainy seasons, the situation gets worse in a manner that we are forced to borrow some sleeping space for my children. This really pains me as a mother.
