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 a few minutes past 11 pm and I had retired to bed when I received a message notification on my phone. I decided to read its contents as it was abnormal for me to receive an SMS at that hour. My heart was filled with joy on seeing its contents and I whispered a word of prayer to thank God for the money that would change my life for the better.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I used to work on people's farms for survival before receiving funds from GiveDirectly and I would at times leave my son with one of my neighbors. Due to this, I always felt that I was not living up to my responsibilities as a parent since I did not have food to leave behind and I would depend on my neighbor's grace. Ever since I received my transfer, my life has changed since I am self-dependent and I go to work with my son. Because of this, I know that I will earn some money at the end of the day and I will not sleep on an empty stomach. I am and will forever remain grateful to GiveDirectly for the positive impact in my life.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a single mother of one and I have been depending on casual work in the neighborhood for survival. I usually work on people's farms and sometimes help them in fetching water and I would get paid KES 100 at the end of the day. This was always not enough for our basic needs since I buy everything ranging from maize flour to milk which costs KES 20 for half a liter. Due to this, I decided to spend KES 20000 from my transfer to start up a business of buying and selling shoes in our neighboring town and KES 25000 on the purchase of a heifer. when it reproduces, I will earn some money through the sale of milk after setting aside some for our consumption. Using the remaining KES 9000, I bought some food and clothes for my son and me.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means self independence to me. The house I live in is within my parents' compound and I have been aspiring to buy my own land and build a house in it. I will therefore use KES 40000 to buy a 0.2 acre piece of land and spend KES 30000 to build a two roomed iron roofed house, and KES 10000 to build a kitchen. I will then spend the remaining KES 25000 to buy a lactating cow, hence an assurance of some daily income from selling milk.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Taking care of my 1 year old son single handedly has been a real struggle to me since I have no reliable job to engage in. I had never bought him clothes since he was born, but only depended on well wishers to donate their children's old clothes. I was however a proud mother a month ago, after I managed to buy him new clothes from my earnings after tilling a neighbour's farm.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I currently reside in my parents' compound, after they gave me an abandoned house to live in with my 1 year old son 6 months ago, due to the reason that I am old enough to fend for my child. I engage in casual jobs such as fetching water, firewood and tilling people's farms for pay. These kind of jobs aren't reliable, hence supporting my household needs is the biggest challenge I face on a daily basis.
