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?
It was around 7 am while washing dishes in preparation for my circumcised son's homecoming ceremony. That's when I heard a message alert on my phone. On checking, I had received KES 55,000 from GiveDirectly. At the receipt of the good news, I was very happy and left the dishes for a while and relayed the good news to my husband and inlaws and we all celebrated.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I received my transfers is the availability of money to purchase construction materials. This has helped speed up the construction process and I foresee completion of the house before the end of the year. As a result, come next year I will start renting out my rental shops hence more income.
Secondly, through the transfers, my family is decently dressed and I am grateful. This wouldn't be possible because right now we have lots of loans and school fees to pay.
Lastly, I am grateful because GiveDirectly are true to their word they promised us money and delivered before the said date. In addition, GiveDirecly doesn't discriminate between the rich and the poor.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a high school teacher and a mother of four. I am also a dairy farmer of three dairy cows which are a source of income during their high season. My husband also works as an engineer far away from home. From our salaries, we partner to pay school fees and do incoming generating projects together.
During enrollment, we started building the foundation of our rental projects. Therefore when the transfers arrived, I spent KES 16,000 on the purchase of construction materials to aid in the building of the two rental shops. As a result, the building now is at its lintel, and at this rate, my house should be complete before the end of this year.
Secondly, I spent KES 15,000 on the payment of school fees. This is because currently I have three kids in high school and the required fee was KES 5000 for each. As a result, my kids now study without any disturbance.
Thirdly, I also spent KES 8,000 on food, gifts, and household items for my son's homecoming ceremony. This is because my teenage son just underwent circumcision a very critical rite of passage from childhood to adulthood in our community.
For the rest, I spent KES 7,000 on the latest clothing and shoes for my family. As a result, my family has become more decent than before.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Applying for a loan in the banks is somewhat challenging since getting lump sum amounts requires someone to have cleared an existing loan. Sadly, I have a 1million loan with Imarisha Sacco that I applied to purchase land. It is a sigh of relief with Givedirectly's transfers for it means completing the rental houses I commenced constructing 1 month ago. I intend to use all the transfers towards this course. I will be grateful and appreciative of Givedirectly because we will have tenants hence an automatic income at the end of each month.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Despite the huge loans I owe Imarisha Sacco, I have been able to provide for my parents who were evicted from the Mau. I am glad to have a supportive husband who has consistently been my shoulder to cry on financially, emotionally and physically. I am grateful that my family of 6 have also never lacked despite the numerous responsibilities .
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Being a firstborn daughter in a family of 5 siblings, I fully support my parents as well as my family of 6. I was employed with the Teachers service commission in 2019 in a secondary school in Transmara where I earn a net salary of KES 20000. It pains me that I have to apply for loans since this money is insufficient to support both families. Furthermore, I apply my shares and salary as collateral and I fear that if I fail to pay back I will run bankrupt.
