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 was brushing my teeth when my trustee came toward me, holding my phone. She broke the good news that I had received my first transfer. For a moment, I froze without moving a muscle, and tears of joy flowed freely down my cheeks. It filled my heart with joy and the news made me lively throughout the day. Later that day I bought 2Kgs of meat and we celebrated with my family members by eating the yummy meal.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
With my health condition worsening every day and unable to find for my family, buying the motorcycle made a big difference in my life. Currently, my son is taking care of me because he goes to work and earns an income from it. I am happy that I no longer walk long distances to fetch water because my son delivers the water using the motorcycle to my doorstep for my use.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent much of my transfer, KES 32000, on buying a motorcycle. I invested my money in buying the motorcycle for two reasons. The motorcycle will help me fetch water now that my health is rapidly deteriorating and I cannot walk long distances to fetch water. Second, my son who finished his secondary education two years ago is jobless and it will help him earn a living by becoming a “boda boda” rider. Besides buying the motorcycle, I spent KES 13000 on buying two mattresses for myself and my children. I earn a living through the selling of charcoal and building poles. I earn very little, which is enough to buy food for my family. For the past twenty, I have been sleeping on a sisal twine bed, which is uncomfortable while my children have been sleeping on the floor and this has affected their health due to the cold. I spent the remaining amount on buying food for my family to prevent them from starving.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have been sharing a one bedoom with my entire family. I have been sleeping on the floor together with my family for over a decade now. This is because I have not been able to afford to buy a bed and mattress for my family. I am planning to use KES. 40,000 to construct a two-bedroom house for my family. Building the new structure means I will repossess the privacy I used to have.
I will use the balance from the GiveDirectly transfers to buy enough food for my family. This will assure the family will have a continuous supply for food for an entire year. Doing all this will make me happy.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Over the December holidays, my children who stay in town paid me a visit in the village. We were able to share light moments and enjoyed a meal together. This brought joy into my life.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I have been surviving under a one bedroom house for over a decade now. This has denied me the privacy I have always desired to have given that I'm sharing the room with my grown-up children and grandchildren. To add to this, bedbugs recent nvaded my house and this has caused a lot of suffering for my family. At night, getting a peaceful night had been impossible because of the bedbugs menace.
