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 watching the evening news with my colleagues. I still remember it was around 7 pm and the phone had low power. I decided to charge it and noticed a strange message on it. After checking carefully, I realize that it was the transfer that was promised to us by GiveDirectly. I was extremely happy and grateful about the transfer knowing this would be the opportunity to own a decent house for ourselves.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Living in a decent shelter with the rest of my family members is the biggest difference in our life. For over 5 years we have been seeking shelter from our neighbors during the rain season something that lowered our self-esteem. We are currently, happy and enjoying the privacy that we had missed for many years. In addition, we no longer miss classes after paying all the fees in full.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am living with my small brother after our father choose to neglect us after a conflict with our mother which resulted in a divorce. We have been raised by our mother single-handedly doing temporary casual jobs which earned her very little income that is not enough to construct a nice house. Owning a decent house for the family had been our appetite. After receiving the transfer, I spent it to purchase bedding materials like iron sheets, poles, and payment of labor charges. This is because we were living in a small grass-thatched house that was leaking something that forced us to seek shelter from our neighbors during rain season. In addition, I used KES 12,000 to clear all the fee arrears for my brother and me in school. Previously, we were always sent home for fees something that negatively impact our performance. With the remaining amount, I bought enough food and clothing for the family. I am very thankful for the aid that has transformed our lives for the better.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My parents divorced and my mother went to live in another town living me and my young brother to live alone. My father married another wife but she refused to attend us and I have to take all the responsibilities of being a student, a child and a parent to my young brother. We are living hard life although sometimes my father sent money to us but a big portion of it is taken by my step mother. We sometimes borrow food from our neighbors if we have nothing to cook in our house. I am in class 7 in my primary education. Our house is leaking especially during this heavy rains and our father comes home once a while. Receiving this money means I will rebuild our house to have Iron sheet roof and strictly save the whole of the second transfer to cater for our school fees, food and our daily expenses in our house.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My father came home with a stock of food last month and he devided it between our house and my stepmother's house.what brought joy and happiness to me is that he came home himself and we talked to him because I was missing my dad and also if he could not come, then we could not have got the food he bought because our step mother doesn't give us the food our father sends home always.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Our house is leaking and during the heavy rains we have to shift to the neighbor's house to sleep. Getting food is also a challenge and I am currently at home because of school fees. We are very lonely because our father comes home once awhile and our mother divorced and never thought of coming back to see us. Our hut has no solar light and during the night, we are afraid because its too dark.I dont have shoes to wear and I am walking bear foot. Lucking school fees has made me remain at home while my classmates are at School and this is the greatest challenge I am passing through.
