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.
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Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($428 USD)
access_time 2 months ago
attach_money
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The first thing I did was take $100 to pay off the person I had given my tailoring machine to as security when I borrowed them money. This was crucial because it allowed me to reclaim my machine and get back to my tailoring work, which is an essential source of income for us. Next, I used $220 to buy 17 iron sheets to start building a new house. The current three-roomed house we live in is cramped for my husband, our six children. With three of our children being full-grown boys, I knew I needed to create more space and my goal is to build a one-roomed house for my sons. Additionally, I used $150 to pay off some of the school fees arrears for my three children in secondary school. This was a huge relief as it eased the financial burden and ensured they could continue their education without interruptions. Finally, I used the remainder of the money to buy some building posts and essential food items for our household. This has provided us with the necessary materials to continue the construction and enough food to keep us going. I am incredibly grateful for the transfers and am eagerly awaiting the second transfer which I plan to complete my sons' house, which will significantly improve our living conditions and overall well-being.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The most significant difference has been the ability to pay off the debt I owed on my sewing machine. I had to use my sewing machine as collateral to borrow money to pay for my child's school fees. Without the machine, I couldn't continue my sewing business, which was my primary source of income. It has been a year since I lost the machine, and those were some of the toughest months I've ever faced. Not being able to sew meant no income and constantly worrying about how to make ends meet. But now, thanks to GiveDirectly, I have my sewing machine back and can continue with my business. The sense of relief and the steady, though small, income I earn from sewing clothes has brought stability back to my life. I feel hopeful and more secure about the future, something I hadn’t felt in a long time.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
As I was working as a school cook, it was around 4 pm when I saw a message on my phone indicating that I had received the unconditional cash transfer from GiveDirectly. Overwhelmed with excitement, I shared the news with my three colleagues, who quickly checked their phones and discovered they had received the money too. We celebrated together, feeling a sense of relief and joy, knowing that our plans were finally coming to fruition. For me, the first thought that came to mind was how I was going to use the money to build a house for my sons, a dream I had cherished for a long time.
Enrolled
access_time 5 months ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
A reliable source of income is the challenge I am currently facing in life. My husband and I do casual jobs making very little income which caters for food and school fees. Sometimes we can take a whole month without any job. This makes the children miss classes due to lack of school fees. I also lack the capacity to build a house for the children thus we all sleep in the same house which is against our culture. The boys are grownup .
What is the happiest part of your day?
My children have been missing classes especially those in high school due to lack of school fees. In February this year, I got a bursary cheque from the office of the area member of Parliament worth $100. The bursary brought happiness in my life since one of the children will settle at school.
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
I have a family of seven members and we all live in a two bedroom house. The children are grown up but I lack the capacity to build a house for them. I had to partition the sitting room so as to make a room to accommodate the girls. My husband and I do casual jobs making little income that caters for food and school fees only. I am a tailor by profession but I do not practice because I once had a tailoring machine but it's no longer operational. I will use $300 to clear school fees for my children both at secondary and primary school. I will also use $500 to build a two room house for the boy children to live. They are grownup and we currently live in the same house and that is against our culture. I also intend to use $100 to revive my sewing machine and start working once again. It will bring a sustainable source of income for me.
