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?
It was around 11 in the morning when I was breastfeeding my son when I heard my phone vibrating. I quickly decided to check its content because it was unusual for me to get a message ever since I bought the phone. Upon checking, I realized that it was an Mpesa message from GiveDirectly. I had finally received my first transfers as promised which at first I thought was a scam. I remember dancing that morning with my baby in my arms. I couldn't hold my joy and I had to inform all my family members about the good news.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I am now sheltering in a better modern house with all my family members. I have been married for over ten years and I have been experiencing sorrow in my marriage. My children never had a permanent place to shelter every night and I used to imagine the struggle of exposing my eight little children at their age. Sleeping at their grandmother's and others at their friend's houses has really been stressing me as a parent. However, I had no otherwise because my house was very small and in a bad state and I was afraid one day it would collapse and become homeless. All these challenges were a result of I have been a housewife and solely depend on my spouse who earns KES 200 a day. I will forever be thankful to GiveDirectky for restoring my lost hopes and for making children healthy. In addition, we have an extra space where they can study and do their homework without any interference.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my first transfer on buying building materials such as iron 22 pieces at KES 22500, building poles KES 7000, nails, timber, and threads at KES 3800. I also gave the mason KES 3000 as his labor costs. I had to prioritize in the house becasue becasue the initial one was very small and it could not accommodate all my family members which are ten in total. For all those years, they have been sheltering at their grandmother's house which was also small. I had no hopes of ever coming out from that kind of life. I also cleared the school fees arrears of KES 5000 for my six children who are both secondary and primary school. I am happy they are studying with minimal disturbances. With the remaining amount of money, I am using it in buying enough foodstuffs for my family.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means privacy to me and my husband. I am living in a one room muddy house with with my seven children. There is no privacy at all. I want to build a two room house that will be used by my children. The house will have 20 pieces of iron sheets that will cost Ksh.17000 . Other building materials and labour will cost Ksh. 30000. I will use the remaining amount to buy five goats as investment.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest Part of the day is in the morning. When I wake up I prepare my children to go to school. When I send them off to school in the morning , I feel very happy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My husband works with hotel industry at Kwale county .He is the provider of the family. In June his job stopped due to the Covid-19 challenges. I have no work to do at home, I rely on agriculture and this season never did well. I had go without food with my family for a period of one week. This was very hard for me to bear. That is the biggest hardship I faced.
