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 had heard an SMS alert on my phone around 8 am but didn't know what it was because I do not know how to read and write. At around 9 am is when I received a call from my helper informing me that the transfers had come. I immediately gave the phone to one of my children who were with me at that moment and she confirmed I had received KES 55,000 from GiveDirectly. I was very happy and waited for my helper to come home and we withdrew the money later that day.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference is building a better house that is now smoke hence reducing eye allergies. I am also grateful because I now sleep well unlike before when I used to sleep in tattered clothes for the past 13 years.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have been suffering from allergies for the past year. Due to this, I can not do heavy duties so to eat I rely on farming maize and sweet potatoes on a small scale. Additionally, I am allergic to smoke and needed another house.
Fortunately, when I received my first transfers I used a total of KES 33,500 on building a second house. This is because initially, I had only a tiny Iron roofed house which was built two years ago and acted both as a kitchen and bedroom and couldn't accommodate me and my grandkids. Therefore, KES 9500 was used on twenty-two Ironsheets, KES18,000 on construction trees, and KES 6000 on payment of labor costs. This has helped reduce the effects of firewood smoke on my enemies.
Secondly, KES 3,600 was used on my medication for the treatment of allergies. This is because it has been on and off for the past year.
Additionally, I spent KES 2800 on a 140 liters water storage container. This will help in the storage of water, especially during rainy seasons.
Lastly, I spent KES 2600 on a mattress. This is because I have been sleeping on clothing rags for the past 13 years. Nowadays, though I don't have a bed, I sleep comfortably and I am grateful to GiveDirectly.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
The current house that I am living in serves three purposes, it acts as a kitchen, living room, and bedroom. With the use of firewood as fuel, the smoke has been challenging to me when night comes. I do not enjoy sleep at all, this makes me uncomfortable. This makes me prioritize building a two-roomed house with KES 50000. This has just been a dream for me now that I no longer work to earn a living, I slipped some years back and broke my arms making it difficult for me to work for a living. I will then convert my current house to be the kitchen. To enable me to earn some income and put food on the table, I will plan KES 30000 to jumpstart my dream of rearing cattle to enable me to earn money through the sale of milk. I will also consider buying food with the remaining money, this will help me avoid perennial food shortages in my household.
What is the happiest part of your day?
With the financial struggle that I am going through, I never starved or stayed without food. I managed to have something to eat. My married sons were able to donate food and money to me. This brought me joy and happiness.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I slipped in 2002 and broke my arms, this makes it difficult for me to work to earn a living. As a result of these, I am left struggling financially to provide food and other basic needs for my family. This has been my biggest challenge.
