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 relaxing with my family in the evening when I heard a message alert on my phone. I had been working on the farm the whole day and I was taking my time to relax as I waited for supper to be prepared. Since I could not read and understand the messages, it was my son who confirmed to me that I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I felt happy and rejoiced with my family since I could now pay fees for my children.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I am grateful to GiveDirectly because my children are currently in school because of the transfer. They are in college and were almost exempted from doing their semester exams. Raising fees for them has been a challenge since I do not have a stable source of income, my husband takes care of livestock and the little money from selling milk was helping but wasn't enough. Seeing my children continuing with their studies makes it to be the biggest difference in my daily life. It would have taken a long time to raise the amount for them to be allowed to their examinations.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent Ksh. 15000 of my first transfer on buying a heifer which I am currently keeping on my homestead. To me, this is the greatest achievement since my desire was to own livestock. My husband has been keeping this livestock, which has so far helped us sustain the basic needs through the sale of milk. I thus settled on the heifer, which will be a great addition to the cowshed. Apart from this, I also spent Ksh. 18000 on paying fees for my two children, one in high school and the other in college. I am greatly relieved because I have enough time to prepare for the next payment. I believe I will be able to gather enough finances for the next payment. I am happy that they are now comfortably going on with their studies. I spent the remaining amount on shopping for household basic needs which include foodstuffs that will take us quite some time before buying food again.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My greatest ambition once I receive this money is to make an incredible change to the living standards of my family. Imagine spending nights on the floor due to lack of money to buy some bedding. It has been a very desperate life and I can not allow any visitor to come to my home because I always feel ashamed. I am so quite sure that this money will bring a positive change to my livelihood since I intend to expand my house and also to buy some new bedding to replace the old ones. This will cost me utmost 60000 KES of my transfers. I will invest the remaining amount in livestock to have a longer-term project, to help in meeting my very basic needs in the future. Thus, this is generally what receiving this money means to me.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In the last 6 months, I have had special care from my son who is doing some casual work in Mombasa. Since the beginning of this year, he has been consistent in sending me 1 bale of maize flour every month. This is so helpful to me because I have been able to feed my family without difficulties. Thus, I consider this as what has brought joy to my life.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Living in an area where charcoal burning and selling of firewood are the main sources of income is the worst life ever. Imagine, all in my life, 62 years now, I have actively been engaged in charcoal work, a very strenuous job and its income is equally low. In a month, I usually make 2000 KES, which can not sustain our needs. Sometimes, I am forced to seek help from my relatives but their help is also inconsistent something that has pushed me to survive on one meal on some days. Hence, I consider the lack of a decent source of income as the biggest worry at the moment.
