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 was informed by my children that the money that I had been promised by GiveDirectly officers had been sent. I am an old grandmother and definitely I could not read the message. I thanked God and blessed whoever had decided to help me with the money. It was so fulfilling that for once I had my own money and that I would be able to give my children whom I was fully dependent on a break to relax and do their own things too.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I feel so much relived having received the first transfer and waiting for the second transfer. I am much more happy than I was before I received the money. Happy because I have some form of independence and in a very stable health condition. I a, so happy for the support Givedirectly gave to us the elderly people. May God bless the works of your hands.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When the money was withdrawn by my son, i told him to buy me a dairy cow worth KES 20000. This is an investment that I thought would be of great help to me in future and be able to provide us as a family with enough milk supply for both consumption and resale.I used another KES 15000 to buy clothes and other basic household needs like food. The remaining amount was saved and will be useful in buying other basic household needs.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money will uplift my source of livelihood alot. At my old age I cannot engage myself in meaningful economic activities and as such it is a real struggle catering for myself. Good things happens sometimes and I feel this is the such time for me to have been a beneficiary of this transfers. I normally depend on the government cash transfers for the elderly but they are hardly sufficient. I plan to use the money to buy food stuff for consumption. I will use approximately KES 20000 and use the rest of the money to buy a dairy cow.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Sometimes in August my children and grandchildren visited me and they bought me several gifts among them were food , clothings and blankets. It was a very nice ceremony to celebrate my life . I was so elated that I had been remembered by my children and grandchildren. Even the neighbours came and we really enjoyed. We ate ,sang and rejoiced.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am weak and indisposed. My legs are so feeble I guess because of the old age. I also struggle to hear alot , I have some difficulty of hearing. It started about five years ago. To date I still have the same problem, I have gone to several hospital but my health has not improved. This has affected my way of life alot.
