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 can still remember very well that early morning when I was heading to the farm when my cell phone started ringing. Thus was so usual, so I decided to ask my spouse to check the content of the message. After checking, he realized it was an mpesa message from GiveDireclty. Wow! I was so excited and what I can say is that this was the greatest message I have ever received in y life.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I have been married for over twenty years and I have never enjoyed the peace of having my own permanent house. Therefore after receiving my first transfer, I opted to build a new house. Before the coming of GiveDirectly, I used to sleep in a temporary house and in a pathetic condition. During the winter season, I used to seek shelter from my brother-in-law's house which reached a time I was like a burden to them. I also manage to renovate a small house for my son which has some grass-thatched roofing. I do not regret this decision since it has brought joy and the biggest difference in my daily life. We are now living happily as a family, and we no longer worry about the heavy downpours as we used to.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my first transfer on buying some building materials such as building poles, timber, some pieces of iron sheets, nails and a wooden door. My intention was to build a new house and renovate that of my son since the previous one was in poor condition and very small. My son's house had grass-thatched roofing which temporary because whenever it could rain, he was rained on. I also cleared a debt of the piece of land from a friend and I am now owning it. Previously I used to lease from my neighbors during the planting seasons. I am now a happy farmer because I will be doing my agricultural activities without spending a lot of money on leasing people's farms as I used to do. I then bought some new mattresses to replace the old ones and we are currently sleeping comfortably. The remaining amount of money, I bought some foodstuffs for my family and some other household items that I was lacking
Enrolled
access_time 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Imagine living in a single roomed house with a family of 7 children! This is so hectic as the space cannot accommodate us. Therefore, I only sleep with two of them while the rest use the kitchen for shelter. I am not happy at all as my children suffer from constant respiratory problems because of the smoke. Besides, it is always hot and they don't sleep comfortably. Therefore, receiving this transfer means building a better shelter for my family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiness comes when there is food to feed my family. Since we struggle so much, it is in the morning when I can determine how my day will be. Every time there is provision of something eat I feel very happy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Financial constraint is my biggest hardship. This results from the fact that I am a house wife and my spouse burns charcoal for a living. Because the earnings are not consistent, he can only afford 1000 shillings for our sustenance. This is what has deprived us of decent living. We cannot afford good beddings, enough food, clothes and school fees. Currently my son who completed primary school last year has not yet joined secondary institution due to this problem.
