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?
That day was truly amazing. Around 3 p.m., I was riding my boda boda when I heard my phone beep. I checked the message, and it was from Xegofia, confirming a transfer of $180! I was super excited, and my heart raced with possibilities. The first thing that came to my mind was to buy a gas cylinder so I could cook more easily. In our area, it rains most of the time, and cooking with firewood just doesn't work for me anymore. I don’t have the time to collect firewood, and cooking outside can be quite challenging. Getting that gas cylinder would make my life so much simpler!
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Before receiving the cash transfer, I struggled a lot to pay for my nephew's school fees. My brother, who is now Vincent's father, had previously paid for my fees while I was studying, so I wanted to help him in return. However, the fees were huge for me, and even though my boda boda business was doing well, I couldn't save anything because I was focused on paying the fees. Now, after receiving the money, I feel so happy and thankful to GiveDirectly. I am stress-free because I no longer have any school fee arrears. I can finally start saving money from my boda boda business, which is a great relief for me.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
That day felt like a fresh start for me, filled with hope and possibilities. I was determined to make the most of my unconditional cash transfer. I began by spending $55 to purchase a gas cylinder, which would make cooking so much easier and more efficient. Cooking with firewood had become a challenge, especially during the rainy season when collecting wood was tough. Having a gas cylinder meant I could prepare meals quickly and comfortably without the hassle of gathering firewood.Furthermore, I wanted to give back to my brother, who had supported me during my studies. I paid $50 for my nephew's secondary school fees, helping my brother with his expenses. It felt good to support family, especially knowing how much he had helped me in the past. As I am not married and live alone, buying food wasn’t too difficult. I allocated $50 to stock my house with food, using my boda boda to transport it home. On good days, I could earn between $8 and $10 from my boda boda, making it easier to provide for myself.Finally, I used the remaining $25 to buy some new clothes for myself. While I had a few outfits, I wanted to feel more comfortable and confident in my appearance. It was a small but meaningful investment in myself, and it made me feel good to have something fresh to wear. Overall, this cash transfer changed my life, allowing me to take care of my needs and support my family.
Enrolled
access_time 4 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
Receiving the cash transfers means so much to me. This is because I believe that when I receive the cash transfers I will be able to bring positive change in my life. I have planned well for the transfers and for the first cash transfer, I intend to lease half an hector piece of land that will be used to plant tomatoes. This will cost me about KES 15000. For the remaining amount I intend to purchase food stuffs and other household goods that we need. For the second cash transfer, I plan to use about KES 30000 to purchase and plant the tomatoes on the farm. For the remaining amount I intend to pay school fees for my nephew Vincent who is in form two. For the third and final cash transfer, I intend to start a small business. I plan to spend KES 40000 to purchase stock for a shop in our shopping center. This will be a good source of money for me and also an investment. With the remaining KES 5000 I plan to pay school fees for my nephew. Receiving these cash transfers will surely assist me and it will propel me to another level in life and I'm grateful for Givedirectly's consideration to come to our village for enrollment.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In the past 6 months, my happiness comes from my wellbeing and that of my nephew. In the past 6 months we haven't had to seek medical assistance and this delights me and I'm grateful to the almighty for his blessings upon us.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest challenge I'm facing currently is the lack of money. I'm taking care of my nephew whose mother passed on and I only depend on casual work to provide for both of us. This makes life very hard because the money I get from the casual work is not enough to cater for our needs effectively.
