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 ($471 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was early in the morning, I had just woken up when I heard my phone ringing. Since I do not know how to read, I gave the phone to the children in my household and I asked them to check for me what it was all about. They checked it and a few moments, one of them happily told me that I had received the promised transfer of KES 55000 from GiveDirectly. I was so happy and I thanked God for it. I then, later on, planned and informed my children about my plans.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The transfer is going to bring a big difference in my life since I am going to finally fulfill my wish of building another permanent house for myself. I will be able to live in a good house even though I have grown old.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I got my recent transfer, I first took out KES 6700 that I spent on buying 6 rolls of wire mesh that I want to place all around the chicken house. I want to do so so that I can protect the chicks from predators. Other than that, I also bought a sweater at KES 2000. I added some utensils and bought some food for our consumption with part of the transfer money. I saved the remaining amount which is about KES 40000. I plan to use that amount in the construction of another house. The house that I have been living in has grown old and the floor has cracked. I have been hoping to build another house for quite some time now, but I didn't have the large sum of money that is needed to do so. My children have also been having the same plan but they have not managed to do so since they are struggling with the payment of school fees for their children. So when I told them how I am planning to spend the transfer, they were happy and they promised to help out since I am planning to build a permanent house and it is going to be a bit costly. I am thus grateful to GiveDirectly for their big support.
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Being old and a widow, receiving this money will be a relief to me since I will be able to renovate my house. It was built long ago by my husband and the floors, the roof, and the walls need to be renovated. I plan on using KES 30,000 to do the renovations needed and using KES 10,000 to buy maize and beans for my family since I am now unable to do any farming.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I normally stay alone but when the schools were closed, my grandchildren came to visit and gave me company and this has brought me happiness.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The challenge that I am currently facing is financial constraint. I depend on farming to earn money for food but with my age, I am unable to do farming anymore and I have to rely on my children to provide money and food for me.
