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 so happy the moment I received the money because that marked the end of the hardships I was going through especially with the tedious and tiresome work of cutting trees and burning charcoal and selling. I had gotten the opportunity to at least rest and regain my good health and strength. I was so happy and grateful when I got the money from GiveDirectly.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving money from GiveDirectly is that I no longer have to do the tiresome and tedious work of cutting trees and burning charcoal and selling. I am so happy and grateful that I am regaining my good health and strength, that I am no longer weak as I used to be before I started receiving money from GiveDirectly. I am so happy and grateful.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent most of the transfer which was KES 20000 on buying five goats that were mature and almost ready to start reproducing which was the main reason and motivation to spending that amount and buy them. I also did that because my ambition is to upgrade to cows and I can only do that if I am able to raise enough money to buy cows which will result from my five goats multiplying. Having both cows and goats, is the investment that I have always desired because it something that will live on for the future unlike something that will be consumed and be finished. . I also spent KES 20000 on building my son a house because he is a grown-up and beyond the age of sharing a roof with us, his parents, because it is against our community's culture and customs for a son to share a a roof with his parents when he reaches a certain age. I also did that so that he can have an ample space for his personal studies without any disturbance and disruptions. This makes me a very proud and happy parent, all thanks to GiveDirectly.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receving this money means a good house and a stable income in the future. I have always dreamt of keeping livestock especially goats because they can survive in dry conditions.My plan is to buy 15 goats at a total cost of 40,000 KES. This means, I will have a continuous income in future when the goats multiply because I will be selling them at a reasonable profit.I intend to build a house with 30,000 KES because the one I currently live in is very weak. I feel very insecure to live in such kind of a house because it can fall down at any given time. I will then use the rest of the money to help my cowife to educate her children since my children are all grown ups.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiest part of the day is in the evening. I do wake up in the morning to fetch water in an one hour walk distance, then later go to the forest to cut down trees for charcoal burning. I get busy from morning until late in the afternoon.It is in the evening that I get time to rest.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I sell charcoal for a living and I make roughly 3000 KES per month. This amount only goes into buying food. It is not sufficient enough for me to save to buy goats and build a house which has been my greatest desire. My biggest hardship in life has been insufficient money to build a good house and also be able to buy the goats for keeping.
