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 already out herding my livestock at around 8a.m and I heard my phone vibrate. Upon checking, it was an MPESA message from Givedirectly bearing good news. I was so elated and returned home to share the good news with my spouse. We all celebrated and planned on how to initiate our already discussed plans.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the additional dairy cow to my livestock. We are now enjoying enough supply of milk unlike before. I am so grateful to Givedirectly that has turned things around in our household.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After withdrawal of my first transfer, I spent KES 35,000 on purchasing a dairy cow. This was additional to my livestock since I had one and during the dry seasons the milk production would go down. I am happy that we are currently having an extra liter of milk and also we won't be spending money on buying milk. I also spent KES 3,000 in paying medication who was unwell and she visited the hospital. I am glad that she has recovered well. With the remaining amount, I spent on buying clothes and foodstuff for my five family members. We are so grateful for the support that we have so far received from Givedirectly.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means a better and more spacious house for my family of 5. Currently, we live in a one-roomed grassed thatched house that is not enough to accommodate my family. There is no privacy and whenever we have visitors we feel embarrassed. I am planning to use KES 20,000 to purchase building materials do building a two bedrooms house. This will raise my self-esteem and I can comfortably host visitors in my home. The rest I will use to purchase a dairy cow.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In the last six months, I managed to secure casual jobs consistently. This has helped me raise money for my wife's medication. Since she gets her medication on time, she is recovering well and this has brought me happiness and peace of mind.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The challenge I am facing currently is money to cater to my wife's medication. She has been unwell for 2 years now and that has forced me to sell my assets to raise her medication fee. This has drained me economically because as we speak she is under medication that needs KES 3000 per month.
