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 ($500 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was almost 2pm while taking lunch when I heard my phone ring. On checking my phone, I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw KES 55000 from GiveDirectly and I was overwhelmed with joy until I lost appetite for food. I immediately called my wife who was far away and relayed good news and she was very happy too. I then went to the nearest MoMo agent and withdrew the money. That day, we ate meat because it had been a long time and because we only eat special meals during special occasions because we couldn't afford.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is building a semi permanent house on my own piece of land. Our family land was divided 10 years ago but couldn't shift because I couldn't afford to put up a new house. I feel am one step ahead because the goals of shifting to my piece of land and building a house have been accomplished. Thanks to GiveDirectly. I am also grateful because through the transfers my family have grown healthier and happier than before. I am also stress free because I no longer do casual labor in order to feed my family but I now concentrate on my own farm because GiveDirectly enabled me buy farm inputs which wouldn't be possible before.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 30,000 on building a two roomed semi permanent house. This is because the initial one was built on my brothers farm, old with worn out Iron sheets and was built 20 years ago because the transfers came in a timely manner. I also spent KES 10,000 on school fees for my son in high school because I usually rely on casual labor for fees. I also spent KES 5000 on planting an acre of maize this is contrary to before when I used to plant half an acre. I also spent KES 4000 on food and household items and KES 2000 on second hand clothing.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I will use this money to seek advanced medications for my wife who is mentally unwell. She started ailing since 2003 but initially it was seasonal. Currently, her mental health has deteriorated and I don't have money to take her to a better hospital. GiveDirectly is a God sent because it came at the right time when I needed money the most.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Throughout the day, I toil and moil to make sure that by the end of the day I get something to eat by lending out my labor within the village. So in the evening at 5pm I get time to relax having come home with food that I purchased from the little wages I get.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have ever faced is my wife's health. This has brought me down economically because the little I get from casual jobs goes to her medications. It has affected me too much that a cannot do my jobs with normalcy.
