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 still taking my breakfast when my daughter-in-law came to check my phone. She said that there was a message from GiveDirecly confirming that I have received KES 55,000. I felt so happy. I was so happy because I knew I would be able to renovate my house to look which got burned. This was giving me a sleepless night since it was my main house. We planned with my daughter and later went to withdraw the money and started doing the renovation.
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 have renovated my house to look decent. part of my house got burned and this was giving me sleepless nights since I did not have the money to renovate it. My grandson has charged the phone and it exploited and caused a fire. part of the house got burned lucky enough no one got burned. There were some people around and they put off the fire. I was so worried since I had no money to do the renovation. I lived in a small grass thatched house which could not host all of us comfortably. When I received the transfer from Give directly I purchase all the materials that were needed and renovated the house. My house now looks decent and we are so grateful for the support since this could have taken quite some time to be down.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 40,000 on renovating my house which got burned. I was able to purchase iron sheets and other materials that were needed. I could not do this before since there was no other source of income apart from small farming. Currently, my house looks decent and I am so grateful for the support. I paid a debt of KES 6,000 I am free now because this debt is cleared. The rest of the money I spent on food and household items that we were lacking at that particular time.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am getting old and weak yet two years ago, I was diagnosed with the problem of blood veins which has affected my left leg. I have visited several hospitals in search of medication but in vain. My ambition has been to seek further medication in a more sophisticated facility but financial inadequacy has been the main problem. I, therefore, intend to seek further medication using the transfer from Give Directly and this is what has given me hope in my life. Apparently, I am not sure how much will it will cost me and therefore, receiving this money will relates to an improved health.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In the last 6 months, we were able to get enough rainfall in our region and this has brought happiness in our lives. We have faced inadequate rainfall for the past 8 years and this has reduced crop production. We are hopeful that this year, we will be able to harvest sufficient maize in our one-acre piece of land.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am getting old, feeble, and unable to fend for my family as I am also a housewife. I am sad that I cannot go out as I used to do because of my old age leaving us to depend on livestock for upkeep. We have only one cow which is not enough to cater to a family of 3 because we milk only 2 liters of milk for domestic use. We don't have surplus milk to sell and earn some cash. Therefore, we are currently facing financial inadequacies in the family.
