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 biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that through GiveDirectly's money, I was able to buy more cows to add to my cowshed. This is a boost to me economically because I will be able to produce more milk to sell and earn extra cash. Also, having the livestock is a source of wealth for they are assets which I can readily rely on in case of any financial challenge, as they reproduce and increase in number.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I saw a message notification early in the morning that day. I checked to confirm what the information was and to my surprise, it was from GiveDirectly notifying me that my first transfer had finally been sent into my phone. I was thankful to them for fulfilling their promise to us.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent KES 24000 of my first transfer on purchasing two heifers to add to the five cows I had Initially. I believe that adding the two heifers to my cowshed is a big achievement because I will produce more milk for both household consumption and sales. In addition to this, I also spent the transfer on paying tuition fees for my two children in college. This has enabled them to comfortably continue with their studies for a whole semester without any interruptions on school fees. I am currently spending the remaining part of the transfer to provide the daily basic needs for my family such as food and in paying other household expenses.
Enrolled
access_time almost 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means a source of income for my family. Being a retired teacher, and still having children who need educational support, most of my pension goes to school fee leaving none for other family needs. In most instances, I struggle a lot to even provide a decent meal to the family. Therefore, once I receive my transfer, I will put more focus on children's education, something that is so dear to me. Again since I spend most of my time at home, I want to invest in goat rearing business, particularly the indigenous breed. It is not a labor-intensive venture and goats are not susceptible to diseases and pest. Besides, their breeding rate is high.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening because it is at this time that I rest after attending to the day's activities. Normally, my day starts at around 6 o'clock in the morning, and immediately after breakfast, I head straight to the grazing field. And because of insufficient pastures, am forced to travel kilometers away in search of it. I usually return home in the evening exhausted.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of adequate resources has been the biggest hardship in my life. I depend entirely on pension, something that hardly sustains the family through the month. My wife, on the other hand, is suffering from a condition we haven't been able to diagnose due to lack of money to take her to the hospital. The little that I get from my retirement scheme goes to education. Once I receive the transfers, I will purpose to get her the required medical attention.
