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?
It was in the evening and I was at the stage hoping that I would get a client since I use a motorcycle to offer taxi services in the neighborhood when I heard some people whispering claiming that GiveDirectly had started sending out the promised transfer. It was at this time that I heard a peep sound on my phone and I quickly fished out to check its contents. I became so happy when I saw the Mpesa message and I immediately called and shared the good news with my spouse. With this money in my account, I knew that I would be able to solve some of my problems.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
My younger brother's education is being sponsored by equity bank and I usually cater for his basic needs. He has been sleeping with his friends in their houses during the holidays and I had been living in fear that he might be misled due to peer pressure. Currently, I am in the process of building a house for him and I am glad that he will start sleeping at home very soon. Because of this, he will be able to concentrate on his studies and all obstacles that would have resulted in his scholarship being terminated will have been eliminated.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I bought a heifer worth KES 25000 upon receiving my transfer as an investment that will enable me to save the money that I would otherwise use in buying milk when it calves. In addition, I spent KES 15000 on 17 pieces of iron sheets, KES 6500 on nails and door frames, KES 3000 on some timber that I will use in making doors and windows, and spent the remaining amount on food. I am planning to use these materials to build a house for my younger brother who has been sleeping with his friends ever since I got married. I have not been comfortable with this arrangement since one can easily be misled by their peers especially when they are still young. I am happy that I have been able to achieve all these as it had seemed hard for me since I depend on offering taxi services using a motorcycle and I usually pay myself using the remaining amount after giving the owner KES 300 daily.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
With a young growing family of four, most of my income goes into meeting their basic needs. I depend on motorcycle taxi to earn a living. Due to high competition I earn KES 200 per day as profit. For the past 4 years, we have been purchasing two litres of milk daily for consumption at KES 70. With this unstable source of income sometimes my children lack milk for drinking which is vital for their growth and development. My desire has been to own one dairy cow to save me from these expenses. I am planing to use KES 35,000 to purchase a luctating cow. From the surplus I can get money which will boost my daily income.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Despite the struggle we are facing to raise money for our family needs, I thank God for giving us good health for the last six months.Throughout the year 2021 everyone in my family was well more so my self because as motor cyclist I interacted with alot of people despite Covid-19 pandemic.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The challenges we are facing currently is financial constraints.I earn around KES 200 from motor cycle taxi which only caters for family of four basic needs. I hardly get any amount to save for my other personal projects.
