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?
While just resting at home at around 7am, I heard a message tone from my phone. Since I do not know how to read, I called my helper for confirmation what kind of a message it was. When she broke the news, I jumped up and down in happiness. It was the first transfer of KES 55000.00 from GiveDirectly.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Initially, my life had no clear direction. I entirely relied on making and selling charcoals which was a tiresome job to do. This business was not reliable since the process of making the charcoals takes around five days out of which we may go without getting some food. From the time I received the transfer from GiveDirectly, I decided to take a break to rest from the daily fire which I used to counter in making the charcoals. As a family, we have good access to daily meals not as before when we used to skip some days because we did not have what to eat.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon withdrawing the money, the very first thing that I did was pay school fees for my children who were ever out of school due to school fees and this was affecting their performance. Considering that, I cleared the term fees of KES 5000.00. Thereafter, I opted to build a new house since the one I had was a grass-thatched one and it was leaking profusely during the rainy season. I bought 20 pieces of iron sheets for KES 17000.00. I also bought a standard modern bed for KES 5000.00 because the one I had was the traditional roped bed and it was very old. Since it was a drought season, I used the remaining amount in buying some food for my family.
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My nights have been frightful. Think of sleeping in a 3m by 4m house house, congested with all sorts of items, from beddings to utensils.The house lacks a door shutter yet we are surrounded by bushes which harbour dangerous animals including poisonous snakes. I have several times killed snakes trying to seek shelter with me. This experience has made me yearn for a better house and it will be realized upon receiving my first transfers. With 40 000 KES, I will joyful renovate the roof and install a metallic door shutter to help curb my horrific nights.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I cannot take for granted the fact am now a grandmother. It happened three months ago when my firstborn was blessed with a baby boy named after my late husband. Having the child around me has been the source of my joy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I was blessed with two children, both boys. The first one did not make his way to college preparatory school due to lack of money.He ended up being a charcoal burner, a job which gives him about 300 KES a day. The life challenges he is facing has made me take every action to ensure the younger receives better education. With no job, selling firewood has been my only source of income. Day by day, I have seen my second born drawing nearer to the same fate especially now that he is remaining with one year to finish his primary education. The boy is a top performer in his class. The thought of shuttering his dream of becoming a doctor has been giving me sleepless nights.
