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, it was around 6 pm while starting to prepare dinner. That's when I heard a message alert on my phone. On checking, my helper confirmed that I had indeed received the eagerly awaited KES 55,000 from GiveDirectly. I was very excited at the arrival of my transfers because my neighbors had received theirs around 2 pm.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving the transfers is the purchase of a large water tank enough to store up to 5000 liters of water at once. Fortunately, after the recent rains, my water tank is now full. As a result, I have access to clean drinking water which was a major issue for my family.
Additionally, the two bags of maize I bought can sustain us for the next few months. Currently, my household expenses now are milk and sugar only.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Maize vending has been the main income source for my family for the last thirty years. But about six months ago I was attacked by pneumonia and had to stop the maize vending business. Since then I have relied on dairy farming and my kids for my basic needs.
On arrival of GiveDirectly transfers recently my priority was buying a water tank. I, therefore, spent KES 32,000 on a 5000 liters water tank to curb water scarcity, especially during long dry spells. This is because to get clean drinking water we normally go to a river 3km away. Sometimes we were forced to hire a motorcycle at KES 100 for transporting 100 liters of water.
Secondly, I spent KES 1, 600 on four chicken layers in addition to the three I previously had. This will help in supporting household expenses.
Thirdly, I utilized KES 6, 600 on two bags of maize. This will sustain my family for the next four months. Initially, we could only afford half a bag of maize a week but GiveDirectly has made it easier.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
We have been living here for a long time with my daughter and grandchildren. The house we are living in is old and dilapidated and seeps water. Sometimes last year I decided to build a better house. We pulled resources together with our children and put up the structure. Along the way, the finances got depleted and as a result the construction stalled. There is still some pending work. It has disturbed me a lot that I have not been able to complete it because we lacked the means. We intend to use KES 60000 to cement the floor, put up the ceilings, and do paintings on the wall.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I am been engaging in small poultry farming. Last December I sold 7 chickens and earned KES 3000 which I used to buy maize grains for household use. I was so elated since the prices fetched good prices that enabled me to buy a 90 kg sag of maize which we are consuming to date.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My husband health has deteriorated for sometime now. He is sick and indisposed. He suffers from heart problem , high blood pressure, and mild pneumonia. We have been taking him to Tenwek hospital for medication. It is so costly, we have used a lot of resources for his treatment and for palliative care.
