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 on my way heading to fetch water because it was quite scarce in my area, and that is when I saw the notification informing me that GiveDirectly had finally sent out the donation. I was so overwhelmed with excitement because I was struggling financially at that moment and I finally felt like my prayers had been answered.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I am quite happy that I was finally able to send my children go school especially since they would have probably stayed longer were it not for me receiving the funds when I did. I am also glad that I was finally able to buy bedding which I really needed after sleeping on the ground for quite sometime.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I initially had two cows but I wanted to have more so that I could eventually grow my farm and also so that they could help me financially when they had calves and domestically when they helped me till the land during the rainy season. So I went ahead and bought one cow which was worth KES 14,500. Afterwards I went on to buy a bed and mattress with KES 12,300 because I wanted my husband and I had been sleeping on the cold hard ground on mats for over a year. I also paid tuition fee for my four children worth KES 5,000 because they had been out of school for over two days and used KES 2,400 and ensured I purchased new school uniform for them. I ended using KES 4,500 to buy then new clothes and as for the rest of the funds I used it making meals available for my family and I.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My house has a grass thatched roof and when it rains it leaks. During rainy seasons my children get sick a lot, especially from the cold that causes pneumonia. My financial status has made it impossible for me to repair the current house or even put up a new structure. When we a nearing the rainy season stress and frustrations are my daily medicine because of too much thinking. My priority is to first put up a good house no matter how small it is so that my family can sleep comfortably when it rains. The project will cost around 30,000 KES, I will also spend 20,000 KES to buy two mattresses and beds, 5,000 KES will help towards my children's fee payment and then the remaining amount will assist in buying food, clothes, or even medication when needed. Receiving these transfers means decent leaving conditions for my family and good education for my children too.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My husband has searched for jobs for a long time and it reached a point he was almost giving up when he suddenly got one in a nearby village. Being that he has been struggling to make ends meet without a good source of income and now he got one gave me joy and happiness because our prayers have been answered and he can provide for us without too much straining as before.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of finances has been my daily challenge. Without a source of income feeding my family and buying basic needs has been a problem. The drought and the poor economy in the country have even made things worse because everything is money. Currently without a good source of income means you are doomed to suffer for the rest of your life. Seeing the way my spouse struggles for us to have a good life saddens my heart so much and I am afraid that I might develop depression as a result of this.
