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 during evening hours and I was relaxing after a day's hard work when I got the SMS confirming that I had received the money from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy like I'd never felt before, because I had never received such an amount of money before and I thanked God so much for that was going to enable me address the challenges we had been facing as a family.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I believe that I am now in a different level as compared to when I hadn't started receiving money from GiveDirectly which is actually the biggest difference in my daily life. I used to borrow so much that to some extent I had become a laughing stock to some of my village mates and was usually picked on for gossip topics around the village. This used to make me so unhappy and stressed. However, ever since I started receiving money from GiveDirectly, that stopped and no longer happens which makes me so happy and grateful to GiveDirectly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent most of the transfer which was around KES 45000 on materials and labor charges for renovating our house because it was in a very poor state as well as too small and less spacious for the whole family which led to some of my children having to be hosted by their grandparents. It was very stressful, especially when it rains at night because that meant that we had to spend the whole night awake since it literally used to rain inside the house. Therefore, I am now so grateful to have this house that is nearing completion, all thanks to GiveDirectly. I also spent KES 3500 on buying a sack of maize with the intention of it to keep us going for quite some time because we have no regular source of income since the charcoal burning and selling business isn't reliable in addition to it being very tedious and tiresome. I chose the sack of maize over a box of maize flour which wouldn't last for long compared to the sack of maize. This is because food was one of the pressing challenges and my children mostly used to suffer from the lack of regular food. I am so happy and grateful to GiveDirectly.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I had started a retail shop in my compound but failed due to less stock for my customers. Receiving this money means I will stabilize my shop and put more stock to accommodate all customers nearby. With the profit from my retail shop, I will pay school fees and also buy food for my family. With the remaining amount, I will buy 4 goats as future investments.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I worked at a sand quarry for the last three months and I had not been paid. Last month I received my 3 monthly salaries of KES 9000. I can now pay school fees for my kids and buy food for my family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Financial instability has always challenged me. I have five kids in primary school but they are at home because of the fee balances at school. Getting food and water is a problem I have to walk 10 kilometers to get saltwater that I use to drink. I have to pay to get fresh water and food for my family. I have to spend the little money I get and save nothing.
