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 busy doing household chores when I heard a message alert on my phone. Since I could not read and comprehend the message, I called my helper who checked for me. He confirmed to me that I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I felt happy and thanked God for bringing GiveDirectly to us in the hour of need.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I have been sleeping on old mats and a traditional bed which did not offer a comfortable sleep at all. I remember waking up tired every morning though my dream was to save money to replace them. I could not afford to buy them at my own cost since every penny I got from my sons and menial jobs went to food only. Through the transfer, I managed to buy a new bed and mattress which I am now using to sleep on soundly unlike when I was using the old beddings. Having a nice bed and a mattress to sleep on is the biggest difference in my daily life. I would still be using the tiresome old beddings had I not received the transfer.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My living house has been in bad shape and I could not afford to buy the required building materials to renovate it. When I received the transfer, I spent part of it to purchase the building materials which include pieces of iron sheets, and nails to rebuild the roof. It's now in a stable state and this gives me peace of mind, I am no longer worried about the rains. In addition to this, I also paid Ksh.10000 for my grandsons' school fees. They were almost missing their examinations and I had to pay for them on time to avoid this. They are now comfortably going on with their studies. Apart from these, I also purchased a new bed and a mattress and replaced the old beddings that I have been using for many years. They were old and worn out and could not offer a peaceful sleep. I am at peace now because I can afford to sleep soundly on my new bed and mattress. Lastly, I did shopping for household needs which include buying foodstuffs that could take us for some weeks.
Enrolled
access_time almost 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving money means a proper house for me. Currently, I am living in a one-roomed house with my 4 grandchildren. The walls of the house are almost falling off. My ambition over years has been to own a spacious house that will accommodate us comfortably. I will use KES 40000 to renovate my house and add one more room so that it can comfortably accommodate us. I will further spend KES 20000 to bed two beds and mattresses to avoid the cold floor. The remaining amount will cater to other household expenses like food.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My daughter was blessed with a baby boy in the month March. This brought joy to my life. I was called by my son-in-law to bless the baby. I feel so much honored by my in-law for giving me such a chance. Giving birth to a baby boy is a sign of wealth in our culture.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest challenge that I am currently facing is food insecurity. I have been unable to guarantee my family of 5 a standard three meals a day. This is because I majorly depend on charcoal work that earns me less than KES 3000 per month. This amount is not enough to fully support all our family needs. We sometimes skip meals or even borrow from relatives something that ashames me a lot.
