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.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The timing of the transfer was perfect because my little sister was graduating just two days after we received the money. We used $60 to attend her graduation, and seeing the excitement on her face when we arrived was worth every penny. It was a special moment for all of us, and I’m grateful that we could be there to support her on such an important day. With $150 from the transfer, I renovated my house which the mud walls had been deteriorating, especially during the rainy season, and they needed plastering. Using cement, I was able to reinforce the walls, making our home much more secure and comfortable. Additionally, I spent $40 to repair our solar lights. Prior to this, we had to use my phone to light from one room to another, which was incredibly stressful and inconvenient. The cash transfer also allowed me to take care of some immediate financial needs. I used $25 to buy food items for my household, ensuring we had enough to eat. I then paid off $90 of my own debts, which was a huge relief. To help my father, who was under immense pressure from a debtor, I gave him $100 to settle his debt, lifting a huge stress off his shoulders. Lastly, I paid $50 as a tithe in church, feeling grateful for the support we had received. This money has truly transformed our lives, allowing us to address urgent needs and improve our living conditions.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
One of the most significant changes was in my relationships, particularly with my three friends. Before receiving the money, I was in debt to them, and it had really strained our friendship. Because I had taken so long to repay what I owed, they had stopped talking to me altogether. But once I received the money from GiveDirectly, the first thing I did was pay off those debts and this changed everything. My friends and I started talking again, and it was like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.It has been such a huge relief, and our friendship is in a much better place now. This experience has taught me the true value of financial stability and the importance of maintaining good relationships and I can't thank GiveDirectly enough for making this possible
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I had just reached home from school at 6 PM when I saw a message on my phone indicating that I had received money from GiveDirectly. My heart leaped with excitement, and the first person I showed the message to was my wife. She was also very happy, and without hesitation, we both immediately started planning about how we were going to renovate our mud house, which had collapsed during the recent rains. It was a moment of immense relief and joy, knowing that we could finally rebuild our home.
Enrolled
access_time 6 months ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The feeling of failing to achieve my dreams in the near future is something that makes me stressed. This is because, being a teacher on a contract basis means my salary is very low, usually $120 in a month. This amount can not fully meet my family's needs and I always feel, the low income as my biggest challenge.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The arrival of GiveDirectly to our location is something that brought about happiness to me. This is because, I was sure that, when I get enrolled to this program, I will be able to achieve my dream. At the moment, I am so grateful and optimistic that one day, my life will never be the same upon receiving this money.
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
At the moment, being a teacher on a contract basis has not been beneficial enough to support my family of 3. My wife has not established a reliable job and this means, she majorly depends on me. My plan was to have a food kiosk in Kilifi that will be operated by my wife. This will be our additional source of income to solve the financial constraints in my household. To ensure this comes to a reality, I intend to spend $300 of my transfers on this business. On the other hand, I will also invest in agriculture, where I plan to do irrigation to produce maize and vegetables. This will be an extra source of income and I believe it will settle the food insecurity and other problems. On this project, I will use utmost $400 to make it to fruition. The remaining amount will help me to buy a second hand motorbike that will facilitate me as a means of transport to check the progress of my projects. Hence, this is generally what receiving this money means to me.
