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 was home with my daughter-in-law when I received a message notification that confirmed the receipt of my first transfer. I was so excited and thankful as well to know that the start of my projects was soon coming to pass. Since I had all the plans in the book, I had not much hurry withdrawing but had to wait to the appropriate date that I had set to start my work.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the complete change of my daily operations after receiving the first transfer. Previously I had been struggling in people farms as a casual laborer that was not consistently available. As a single mother, I had been waking up very early in the morning as a breadwinner to ensure that avail breakfast and set the lunch ready for my children before moving out only to arrive late at night when I am supposed to prepare them a meal before they sleep. At the moment I am glad that the support from GiveDirectly changed my focus on my farms, and looking forward to establishing a small business as an extra source of income for my family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After the enrolment in the program on the first day by the officers from GiveDirectly, I started laying down plans on how well I will be spending the money after receiving it. Since my husband passed on, I had been struggling alone to ensure that I provide all the school's requirements for my children at home and also school fees for my two elder daughters. paying all that from the casual labor I had been doing had never been any easier but the receipt of this transfer made it easier since I had to clear the KES 10000 that was still pending. I also spent KES 35000 on obtaining the construction materials that include 24 iron sheets, timber, and also nails that I am planning to use in putting up a new house that will be spacious enough for my family of five. I also bought my two daughters a pair of school uniforms and a pair of shoes each, and the remaining KES45000 on obtaining foodstuff for the household
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Recieving this money means a better house for my family. I share a small hut with four grown up girls and there is no privacy at all. My plan is to build a bigger iron sheet roofed house worth KES. 50,000, pay school fee balance of KES. 20,000 for my two daughters in secondary school. The remaining amount will go for foodstuffs, furniture and beddings.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening. this is the time I get a chance to rest after a tiresome day in the farm.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have ever faced is financial constraints. As a widower and having no one to depend on and since production from the farm has be so little due to less rainfall, I have been struggling to pay school fees for my children. Sometime, my children stay home and miss lessons for being sent out if school. Something that makes me sad.
