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.
To me, completing the construction of my house is the biggest difference in my daily life. I could not have finished the construction in good time had I not received the financial support from GiveDirectly since materials got depleted and obtaining finances on time was a bit difficult for me. GiveDirectly enabled me to achieve this and I am happy for the support.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was woken up by a message notification on my phone. On checking to know the sender, I realized that it was from GiveDirectly confirming that I had received some money from them, the money that I was anxiously waiting for. At that moment, I became so happy about the transfer and the thought that I would be able to complete building my new house.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I was in the process of building a new permanent house even before GiveDirectly came to our village. I had started well buying the materials that I could afford with the finances that I had set aside for the house. However, the materials got depleted in the long run and the whole process came to a halt. I could have taken much longer to raise and source for more money was it not for the support from GiveDirectly. Through the transfer, I bought the remaining materials which included sand, bags of cement for plastering the whole house and also iron sheets for roofing. I greatly appreciate this financial support for I am now comfortably living in my new house. I spent the rest of the transfer to buy household items such as utensils as well as shopping on foodstuffs for my family.
Enrolled
access_time almost 6 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Our goal is to be financially stable and independent as a family so that we can meet our needs such as food, medication and education with much ease. This I will accomplish through buying a sewing machine as I am soon completing my tailoring course so I can earn income from making clothes for people. I will also invest in livestock rearing, our main economic activity here since farming is unreliable due to unfavorable weather conditions. Lastly, I will save part of the transfers in my bank account for my child who is yet to start school.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I usually wake up very early to make 'mahamri' a coastal breakfast delicacy in Kenya which I then sell door to door to my neighbors and friends. I love to see the smiles on their faces as they appreciate my work and give me positive feedback concerning the product. This makes morning the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Food insecurity is our biggest hurdle and this is because the weather here is unfavourable thus affecting crop production. Last year we got very little harvest due to low rainfall and we now have to dig deep into our pockets to buy food from the shops. Being a casual worker with an income of not more than 2000 shillings every month, buying enough food to satisfy my family of six on a daily basis is no easy task, most times, we can only afford one or two meals in a day.
