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?
As I was seated at the door of my house, I heard a message tone from my phone. I called my helper for confirmation of the message and what it was all about since I do not know how to read. The message was from GiveDirectly confirming that I had received the first transfer of KES 55000.00. I felt so happy though I contained myself not to ululate because I did not want people to know but inwardly I was ululation loudly. This happiness was a result of the hardship I was going through to fend for my family. Getting the money denoted a relief on my side.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Before GiveDirectly graced my village, I used to rely on making and selling charcoals. This business was tiring but since I had no alternative, I did not bother how old I was because failure to do so meant sleeping hungry. As of now, I am very happy for receiving the transfer because it has given me relief. I am now resting from the tiring job. Again I have goats which serve me as an investment and I can use them anytime the need arises not like before when the only source was charcoal yet not reliable.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I withdrew the money, I first bought a bale of maize flour because hunger was a major challenge. On returning home, I sat down to plan how wise I would use the money. I opted to invest some of the money in livestock. Therefore I bought six goats for KES 18000.00. I settled on goats over cows because goats have ready markets; they can be easily converted into monetary value and also they can withstand drought, unlike cows. I also bought a standard modern bed for KES 7000.00 since I was using a broken traditional bed. Thereafter, I used KES 2500.00 to take my son to the hospital after falling sick and saved the remaining amount for the family’s upkeep
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access_time 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My husband is polygamous(He has two wives). We live in a two-bedroom structure and I share a bed with my co-wife. The bed is too little(4' by 6') for the two of us and it has a torn mattress. I will use Give Directly's transfers to buy a bed and a mattress for 10,000 KES. I will also invest in livestock farming. I am planning to purchase eight goats at 3000 KES each. The remaining amount will be used to provide food for the family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Despite of the tough situations my family is facing. I am happy that there is a mutual understanding between my daughter in-laws and I. The peace and coexistence in the family is incredible and I am thankful for that.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My husband is very old and can longer fend for the family. I resorted to charcoal burning business to salvage the situation at home. I earn approximately 1500 KES a week which is barely enough for the household foodstuff needs. Then nature of work is also tiresome because for are forced to digging tree stumps. This is as a result of drought which has brought about the shortage of trees.
