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 heard the good news from my relatives that they had received the transfer. I vividly remember It was around 7 am when I was outside the home alone preparing myself for my daily casual labour of charcoal burning. I had to call my helper to verified my phone and my surprise he informed me that I had received the transfer too. I was extremely happy about receiving my transfer. Because of the joy that I had, I stayed at home that day waiting for my spouse who was out for work to come back for us to start planning before spending it.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Owning a decent and spacious house for my family is the biggest difference in my daily life. Currently, I own a separate house for sleeping and using the previous one like the kitchen. I am now glad that I am no longer living in a smoke house where I was frequently suffering from smoke-related illnesses like running nose.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my recent transfer on purchasing building materials that include 16 iron sheets, building poles, and timbers which amounts to a total of KES 33000 including labour charges. This was for the construction of a decent shelter for my family. The one I owned before was a small, grass-roofed house which I used as a kitchen and bedroom at the same time. The smoke from my cooking place affected me health-wise and most of my clothes were spoiled by it. In addition, I bought 4 goats for KES 22000, this was to boost my livestock rearing a reliable source of livelihood for my family.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My son finished high school last year and scored an average grade. He was called to join an ECDE ( Early Childhood Development Education) college but due to financial instability, I am yet to take him. He is ambition is to become a teacher. Receiving this money means fulfilling the desire. I am intending to spend 70,000 KES to clear the required school fees for the whole duration so that he can study with ease. I believe that the knowledge he will acquire will enable him to be employed in the future and support us. Apart from medication, I will invest the remaining amount to start a business ( kiosk) which will be a source of income for my family of 6 members.
What is the happiest part of your day?
A month ago, I received relief food from well-wishers who came to our village to support us because of the prolonged drought we are experiencing. This food lasted us for 2 weeks something that I call a miracle. This brought happiness to my life because at least I could concentrate on other things like water knowing that I have enough food on my table do my family of 6.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Prolonged drought is the biggest hardship I am currently facing. It has been 6 months since we had rained in our area. This has brought a lot of crises, especially to my livestock because they do not have food and water. I have lost 50 ingenious cows which were the only hope I had. I am also spending 350 KES money to purchase water for my family every day.
