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 still in bed that morning when I stretched my hand and picked up my phone to check what time it was. When my eyes were on the screen they first saw an envelope-like icon on the screen instead of the time. I curiously opened it to see what kind of a message it was. Upon checking I did not believe my eyes, it was a huge amount of money of KES 55000.00. I rose and sat on the bed not knowing how I should celebrate receiving this amount from GiveDirectly. My heart was filled with joy and thanksgiving.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Before GiveDirectly, my family had no defined source of income instead than casual labor where we were fending from hand to mouth. As of now, I am happy that my wife is doing tailoring which is serving the family well. I am looking forward to receiving the second transfer so that I make a huge addition of stock of clothes materials at her business so that she can sew clothes and sell them such as school uniforms.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon withdrawing the money, I looked at my house which was not very stable. I decided to do some renovations; I used KES 10000.00 to construct some pillars all around the house to make it firmer. I also bought a sewing machine at KES 10000.00 for my wife who is a tailor though she used to rely on other people's sewing machines. By buying hers, she was going to start a new business of sewing and this will serve as an income-generating activity. Thereafter, I used KES 20000.00 to take my child who has a cerebral pulse to the hospital. For the remaining amount, I bought some food for the family.
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Working as a watchman earning KES10,000 has not been something to smile about. This is because I have been unable to sustain my family of four and at times I am forced to engage in energy draining charcoal burning to diversify my financial sources.
I am planning to use KES40,000 to start a tailoring business in the village. My wife is a skilled tailor but due to financial constraints, she has been unable to secure her own sewing machine. With KES40,000, I am assured of getting a new sewing machine and rent a shop to start the business. My wife will be running the tailoring business and with both sources of income, I am assured of enough money to sustain my family. I will use a further KES50,000 to renovated my house because the walls have multiple cracks which makes it risky to live inside. Doing all this will make me a happy man.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Waking up every morning alive and healthy has brought happiness in my life. The daily life struggles I always go through have made me stronger and grateful for any day granted to me by the almighty.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My son has been suffering from cerebral palsy for the 6th year now. This has drained my family because he has to see a specialist every week. The weekly medical costs are unbearable owning to lack of a reliable sources of income for my family. His condition is yet to get better and this has denied my family happiness for long.
