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 past 9 am and I was at home relaxing and doing some cleanliness when suddenly I heard my phone ringing. I pulled it out of my pocket but since I do not know how to read and write, I asked one of my children who lives nearby to check it for me. She unlocked my phone and she told me that I had received the transfer of KES 55000 that GiveDirectly had promised us. I was so happy on hearing this piece of good news and we celebrated together since she had also received the transfer. We gave thanks to God and GiveDirectly for the blessing. I then sat down later and I started planning on how I was going to spend it before I could go withdraw it.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The transfer has brought a big difference in my life and that of my family. I was able to pay college fees for my child and hence he was able to continue with his studies well. I don't know what I would have done if it was not for the transfer since the money was needed urgently. Other than that, we now have enough food to eat having bought two bags of maize. Life has thus become better and easier than before.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 25000 of my recent transfer on paying college fees for one of my children. My child was owing to the college a lot of money which was being needed urgently and I didn't know where I was going to get such a large sum of money. I am thus glad and grateful to GiveDirectly because their transfer came in handy. I then bought 2 bags of maize for our consumption at a total cost of KES 7000. With the remaining transfer amount, I used it on building a sleeping house for my boys. They didn't have somewhere to sleep. They have been sleeping in the store. It has always been my wish to build them one but I was not able to since I didn't have the money. I usually do casual jobs to earn a living. I also have some trees in my farm and a few chickens that I am rearing which I at times sell and use the money in paying school fees for my two children. One who is in college and the other who is in secondary school. I am thus grateful to GiveDirectly for making this possible for me.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means improved food security for my household. I am old and economically inactive and most of the time I depend on my children to fend for me. To me, this is not something I am proud of since they have their own families to fend for too. So when I received this transfer I will spend KES 40000 to purchase food items for my household and a dairy cow which will provide milk for household use and sell the surplus to generate income, as for the remaining amount I will use it to pay school fees for my grandchildren.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Givedirectly could not have come at a better time than this. When I heard that they were coming to my village it brought joy and happiness into my life because I knew the problem of food scarcity will be solved.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest challenge is food insecurity. Sometimes when I feel strong I do casual jobs around the village where I am paid KES 100 and to get these casual jobs is also a challenge since most people prefer young and energetic people. This money I spend on purchasing food for a day with no hope for the next day. On a bad day I am forced to go to bed hungry and this is worrying me since am old and sickly.
