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 biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that through the transfer, I cleared school fees for my son who is in high school. He had been sent home for some weeks ago before the transfers were sent and I could not raise the amount that had accumulated for several terms. I am happy that GiveDirectly came to my aid, by giving us the unconditional transfers. I feel good knowing that he will comfortably continue with his studies without any interruptions.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was greatly filled with happiness the moment I saw the message from Give Directly. I rushed to check my account to confirm whether the message was true because I had been anxiously waiting for this promise to be fulfilled. The thought that my life will never be the same is the best feeling one can ever have. I finally had hope that I would overcome the financial challenges that I was facing.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent KES 10000 to clear my son's school fee arrear to avoid him being sent home. He is in high school and this will determine his fate in life that's why I want to ensure I don't fail him. With this payment, I am assured he will have ample time to comfortably continue with his studies. Apart from that I also built an extension of a single room for my children. My house was not spacious enough and they had to seek shelter from neighbours. Once this extension is complete, then they will no longer face the troubles of sheltering elsewhere at night. I also spent KES 7000 to buy a bicycle and a tank for water storage. This has greatly helped us in carrying and storing water, We are currently faced by serious water shortage in our area, thus having the bicycle to me is time-saving and more efficient compared to carrying water ourselves.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
A good house for my children means a lot to me. Currently, my household has ten members but all my children spend their nights to my neighbor's house something that makes me feel ashamed. Considering my security job which pays me at most five thousand shillings per month, I have never been able to construct a structure for them because of the many responsibilities I have for the family. When I receive my transfers from GiveDirectly, my plan is to build a nice house for my children and this will restore my happiness that I have longed for. In addition to this, I will spend the other transfer on buying livestock especially goats for rearing. This will change my livelihood for the better, a transition that I have wished in my life. Therefore, this is basically what receiving this money means to me.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Considering my current job of security which requires me to spend my nights at work makes me feel weak and exhausted due to lack of enough rest. It is only in the morning when I come back home to sleep. I usually get ample time to rest and also have time with my family during the afternoon hours. Therefore, I consider afternoon being the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Happiness is what every individual would want to have but this value has been in vain to me. This is because, my household has turned into a laughable family due to the many challenges we face in terms of meeting our basic needs. A decent house, getting our daily meals and even sustaining my children in school is a luxury. Therefore, I consider lack of a reliable source of income that can sustain my family as my biggest hardship.
