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.
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Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($484 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 7pm while cooking supper when I heard an SMS notification on my phone. I gave to it to my helper who confirmed that I had received KES55000 from GiveDirectly. I was very happy and ate supper joyfully that night.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving the transfers is purchase modern household furniture. This is because they are more comfortable compared to the local arm chairs I had. I had desired to buy comfortable seats for a long time but couldn't afford. I am also grateful because with GiveDirectly transfers I have bought enough food to sustain me for the next three months. I normally rely on egg buying and selling in order to feed my family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES10000 on modern household furniture and curtains because initially I had local arm chairs. I also spent KES3200 on a sack of maize and KES5000 on a ram as a long term investment and as a memorial from GiveDirectly. I also spent the rest on food and savings.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money is a great boost to me. This is because my ambition of buying furnitures will be fulfilled. I do not have a single chair in my living room.I am even afraid to welcome visitors to my home because I fear the embarrassment. I struggled a lot to build the house and since I completed it I have not been able to furnish it with chairs and tables. I am half way glad now that with this transfers I will be able to purchase a new set of 5 seater sofa set and that I will comfortable enjoy my Christmas with the acquisition of it. It is estimated to cost a total of KES 40000. I plan to use the rest of the money to purchase a dairy cow.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I have not been happy for a couple of months or a year now. Nothing at all to smile about, thanks to Give Directly for their transfers. At least, I now have a reason to smile. I can go back to my business and live a better life. It had reached a point that I was almost giving up in life. God in heaven is great , He does not want his people to suffer. I am forever happy and grateful.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I used to engage myself with a small business of buying and selling eggs. When the outbreak of covid 19 came about and the open air markets were stopped to contain the spread, it hurt my business alot. I spend all the capital to buy household goods. I have never been able to go back to my business and as such life has become so unbearable. It changed from better to worse. I hardly sustain myself nowadays. Even buying a 1/4 kilogram of sugar for consumption has become so difficult unlike before.I nowadays live a life of destitution.
