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 heard a message notification on my phone early in the morning and on checking, it was an Mpesa message. I was very happy to receive my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I thanked them for helping me change my living standard through this transfer.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I have been living in a mud house for many years and my plan was to one day renovate it to be a permanent house. I however lacked the financial resources to fulfill this and it was was becoming unstable and even worse whenever it rained. I am now in the process of rebuilding it after I received my transfer. I bought building materials which include bags of cement, blocks and sand to facilitate the renovation. Living in a permanent house is the biggest difference in my daily life.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent a larger potion of my first transfer on buying building materials that include blocks, sand and cement to renovate my house. it was a mud house and my plan was to make it more permanent. I am now in the process of rebuilding my house through this transfer. I also paid for the labour cost incurred and for transporting these materials. I am spending the remaining money on buying foodstuffs and other basic needs for my family.
Enrolled
access_time 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My house which is made of mud walls is almost 20 years old and its condition is deteriorating. The walls are badly cracked and they are almost collapsing. The roof is also loose and it can be carried away by strong winds. In fact it is a miracle that it survived the recent heavy rains. Sheltering in such a house is quite a threat to my family's safety. My plan therefore is to renovate it and this will involve repairing the roof and building pillars to support the walls.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is the morning when I wake up to see my children healthy and happy. Their wellbeing gives solace to my heart and I cannot be happy if they are suffering.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My spouse is the sole provider for a family of ten. However, his job doesn't have consistent income and he earns as little as 300 in a day. Since we live from hand to mouth it is impossible to save as the money keeps on flowing. This has resulted into us not getting enough provision when it comes to family needs which include food, clothes, medical and school fees. In the past week all my children got a malaria attack and it was a very tough scenario. Seeking medical help was a challenge because of lack of finances. Some even had to share the drugs and we still have a debt of 450 shillings at the hospital. All these problems are caused by financial instability which is my biggest hardship.
