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 asleep when at about 9 a.m, I heard a message notification. I checked my phone and that's when I saw that I had received KES 55,000. Words can not describe how excited I felt knowing I could finally buy a dairy cow for my family.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I am so grateful that this cash transfer has enabled me to buy a dairy cow. Before, we had to buy milk every morning, at KES 35 per litre. This was too costly for my family since we did not have a source of income. But things are different now. We have enough milk supply for the three of us. We can also sell the surplus to earn money and meet other needs. I'm so thankful.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have dreamt of owning a dairy cow for a long time. This is mainly because we had to buy milk every morning, at KES 35 a litre. This is costly for my family because I am unemployed and do not have a source of income. So I was happy to spend KES 35,000 on a dairy cow that now supplies my family of three with enough milk. I then spent the remaining amount on the repair of a motorbike to enable my husband to earn money from ferrying passengers.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have always wanted to be a commercial poultry farmer but I have not realized the dream because of a lack of finances to start it off. My husband is a motorcycle rider, earning at most KES 500 a day, which is not enough to meet the needs of our family of three. With this money, I plan to construct a poultry house, fence it off, buy improved chicks and feeds. It will cost me approximately KES 20,000. Receiving this money means I'll be able to earn income through the sale of eggs and chicken, therefore, meeting my family's needs. I will be so happy to see this dream come true. For the rest of the amount, I plan to purchase a dairy cow as we do not own any at the moment.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In our village, we usually have a merry-go-round where we help each other save so money by contributing to one person per month. Two months go, it was my turn and I received KES 2000. For the first time in my life, I was able to purchase two chickens. So far they have started laying eggs, I hope they will hatch soon which makes me happy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest challenge is a lack of finances. We don't have a cow, meaning we purchase milk for KES 1500 a month. Both our jobs are unstable. The much we earn cannot sustain us, forcing us to live hand to mouth. We are still a young family, expecting to grow in the future. We would have wished to own some properties before many other responsibilities caught up with us.
