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?
It was around 7 AM when I was still on my bed then I heard my phone vibrating. That was an indication that there was a new message. I curiously checked who it could be. I did not believe what I saw, it was an Mpesa message from GiveDirctly. I felt so happy and started celebrating with my family.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the fact that I now own dairy cows. One of the cows is currently producing milk which makes me optimistic. I am getting a daily income through milk sales within the village and the neighbouring villages. I am planning to save money and start a retail shop business very soon. My children's health has also improved as a result of the milk they take daily. In addition, meeting my family's needs has become easier as compared to before since I had no livestock to lean on.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my first transfer in buying some livestock such as two dairy cows and goats. I also bought some beddings such as a mattress to replace the old mats that I have been using for all those years. I also bought some building materials such as iron sheets, building poles, nails. This is purposely for the renovation of my house which had a leaky roof and weak walls. The remaining amount of money, I am using it buying enough foodstuffs for my family and decent clothes.
Enrolled
access_time 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means changing my life for the better. This is because, I was married with the hope of living a better life with my husband but due to financial constraints, this dream has never materialized. I am planning to start livestock rearing and I wish to spend utmost $300 to buy 10 goats and in addition to this, I will buy 2 cows at an estimated cost of $300. This will be my long term investment project to support the needs of my family in the future. My other plan is to extend my house with one room to provide a spacious space that can accommodate our belongings and I intend to use at least $250 to do this.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Since I am a housewife, I spend the better part of my day at home doing household chores. These activities make me feel tired since they are tedious. It is only in the evening when I can get ample time to relax. Therefore, the evening becomes the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am a housewife and I majorly depend on my husband to provide for the family. His casual jobs are not reliable and in most cases, we miss our basic needs, say; meals and nice clothes. Therefore, the lack of a dependable source of income is my biggest hardship.
