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 at home busy with the house chores when suddenly, I heard my phone ringing. Upon checking, I saw a Mpesa notification showing that I had received money from GiveDirectly. I was overwhelmed with joy and happiness. I knew that I would be able to finish renovating and furnishing my house. I am so grateful for the support that has made me accomplish my goals on time.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life today is that I was able to finalize renovating my house. It was left halfway due to unreliable sources of income and the school fees responsibility which were more pressing. But I am glad and relieved that I was able to furnish the living room which is now smarter than before. I am forever grateful for the support that has lifted my living standard to a higher level in society.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I had started building a decent for my family, though I was unable to do the finishing due to financial constraints. I am a farmer and a mother of five children who are schooling. Therefore I had no choice but to leave it pending. When I received my transfer, I saw it fit to continue with the construction where I used a sum of KES 19,000. I then used KES 25,000 in offsetting a debt that had accumulated for a long time. Lastly, I used the remaining amount on foodstuffs. I am so happy to have achieved my goals in a short period.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means a better secure future for me and my family of six. My firstborn son will be joining the high school in the next three years, meaning I should be prepared financially to be able for his education as well as my other four children. With this money therefore I plan to purchase a dairy cow which will not only be giving me income through the sale of milk but I will be able to sell in case I will strain to pay school fees. For the rest of the amount, I will construct a poultry house to be keeping chicken as an alternative source of income.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My husband bought us a Television and a radio six months ago. Never in my life have I owned a Television. I am the happiest mother as my children can watch educational programs and entertainment programs.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of enough food is the main challenge. We buy food for most of the year as the much we produce can not sustain us year-long costing us up to KES 4000 a month for maize flour alone. My husband is a casual laborer- a tea plucker at a tea plantation far from home. He is the sole provider to our family so we depend on him to send us money for upkeep. The much he earns( approximately KES 6000 a month) is usually not enough as he has to meet his needs including food and rent as well as support us.
