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 outside the relaxing after spending the better part of my day herding my livestock. This job is tiresome since it involves a lot of walking and running during herding. I received two consecutive messages on my phone. I was very curious to know their contents since it was around the dates we were promised to receive our transfer. I had to inform my helper who confirmed them and informed me that it was the aid from GiveDirectly. I felt very happy and relieved of the stress since I was very sure that I will be able to accomplish my long-term desires.
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 am currently living a happy life after purchasing a variety of household utensils. Previously, I had to suffer so much whenever I was cooking food for the family because I did not have enough cooking pots. In addition, I was able to purchase a local dairy cow which will ensure I have enough milk supply for the family as well as being able to sell the offsprings to cater for any financial emergency in the future.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 12,000 to purchase one indigenous dairy cow this was to boost my livestock rearing so that it may be more sustainable. I am also planning to sell the young ones when it reproduces to cater to any financial need that might arise in the future. I also used KES 4,000 to clear the fee arrears for my 4 children who are in primary school. Furthermore, I bought small household utensils like plates, and cooking pots because I did not have enough households utensils. Lastly, I bought 12 irony sheets that I am planning to construct a decent house for my children who were seeking shelter in our relative's house. Most of the time, they were misplaced whenever he came home with his family members. With the remaining amount, I bought enough food for the family.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am a widow with 7 children. My husband died 4 years ago. I have been struggling to feed my children through burning charcoal for sale and doing subsistence farming - growing maize, cassava and sorghum. My children have passed difficulties in their education untill now are still at home and the schools resumed learning 2 weeks back after the december holidays and my kids are still at home because of School fees.I have a school fee balance of KES 34000. I am feeding my family through difficulties. Mostly I depend on charcoal burning and my first son is currently tapping palm wine inorder to increase the family earnings.
Receiving this money means I will clear my children school fees, buy local goats to keep as a family wealthy because this is the only investment I can do. My body is growing old and I dont have the strength to do business or manual job. I will keep food in my house and be relieved on the straneous job of charcoal burning business.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I enjoyed the Christmas with my children. I slaughtered a hen and enjoyed it with rice This brought joy and happiness because my children were very happy for the special food I prepared for them. They had eaten this special meal in the previous Christmas and therefore it brought happiness to me seeing the other Christmas.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am facing food insecurity in my house. Getting my family's daily meals is a hard task to me.I depend on charcoal burning business which does not bring enough income to meet my family's needs..My 4 children are still at home and the schools reopened 2 weeks ago because I have a huge fee balance at school.
