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 awakened by the loud vibration of my mobile phone which was so unusual. Without wasting time, I decided to check the content of the message. I felt so happy after realizing it was an Mpesa message from GiveDirectly. Without wasting time, I started planning on how best I would utilize it.
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 now a proud owner of a dairy cow. For all those years, I have been yearning to own it but I could not afford it since they were very costly. I opted in purchasing it because it has numerous benefits. One in a few months to come, I will be getting milk for my family consumption and the reaming liters, I will sell them to my neighbors and friends hence generating an income. Through that, I am positive that meeting my family's needs to be much easier as compared to before.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my first transfer on buying a dairy cow at a total of KES 40000. This has been my desire to own it for a long period but I could not afford it becasue of my low income. The remaining amount of money, I bought enough foodstuffs for my family and some other household items such as plastic chairs and decent clothes.
Enrolled
access_time 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My desire has been to build a spacious house which can accommodate my family of 7,but due to financial problems this dream has never emerged. Receiving this money means achieving my long time ambition. I am planning to spend $ 110 constructing it. I have been staying in a small house which is leaking during the rainy season. The walls have huge holes through which breezes infiltrate at night and it's too cold. Our health has been affected we have chest problems and this is as a result of the cold. We also lack privacy in our house because we can not hide anything people through the holes and learn what is emerging this has absolutely stressed me. Accomplishing the house will resolve our health problems and we will also live a decent life.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Afternoon becoming my happiest part of the day because it is at this time when am able to do my daily chores.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am a herder who has been employed by one of my neighbours. This job earns me $ 20 in a month. The amount is not enough to cater for my family needs. Inadequate money becomes my biggest challenge to face.
