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.
It has been my desire for a long period of time to own a dairy cow but due to the financial difficulties, I could not afford to buy one. Therefore owning this dairy cow has made my life to be totally different. I am sure I will achieve a lot with the help of this cow. First, this cow has numerous benefits such as getting milk for my family which will make us more healthier. I can also decide on selling the remaining liters to friends and getting some money in return. This will now be my source of income since I am the only breadwinner at the moment. My spouse has been unwell for a long time, therefore, he is not in a position to do any kind of job. I feel this business of selling milk will boost me greatly. Secondly, I will be getting some manure which will help my farm to be more productive, resulting in good harvests. For the above reasons, I feel my life will never be the same.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I remember very well it was around 3 am when I heard a notification from my mobile phone. I was so nervous and decided to check what the notification was all about. I confirmed it was an Mpesa message from GiveDirectly. I was very excited knowing most of my dreams shall come true.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent part of my first transfer on buying a dairy cow at KES 24000. I settled on buying a dairy cow because of various benefits, such as getting milk, manure and many more. I then paid school fees for my children, Initially, they used to stay home for weeks due to school fees arrears. Apart from that I also bought a bed and mattress. We used to sleep on a mat. I also managed to buy a goat as an additional asset. In addition to that, I bought a water tank which will help me in storing rainwater since there is a shortage of water in my village. The remaining amount of money was used in buying enough foodstuffs for my family.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I believe lack of education is the root cause for my poverty and I would not want to pass this to my generation. I have always desired to educate my children but the process is not smooth because of lack of school fees. This transfer will make my dream come true as I will start a goat rearing project to finance their education. This will give them a better future for they will be able to fend for themselves without much struggle. Besides, I will renovate my house and replace the old iron sheets. This will save me the agony of moving my staff around the house during rainy season.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I am happier in the morning when my family wakes up healthy. I always pray that none of us gets sick because raising money for medical care is not easy. Their happiness matters most and it what keeps me moving despite all the setbacks.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Financial constraint is my biggest hardship and it has resulted to so much suffering in my family. This is attributed to the fact that I am a housewife and my spouse lacks a stable job. This means providing for the family is such a hustle and in most cases we lack basic needs. The most pressing one is school fees which has seen my eldest sons missing secondary education and are now working as casual labourers.
