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 I have bought a heifer. I have been buying milk from my neighbors and it has been so costly. I do casual jobs in the village to earn an income and the amount of money I get from these jobs is so small and cannot cater to all the basic for the family. I have always wanted to buy a cow but because of little income, it was not an easy task for me. I am so happy because I have owned my own cow and I know in the next few months I will not be buying milk when my heifer reproduces. I will be in a position to cut the cost of buying milk and save some amount to pay school fees for my children in school. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has given me hope to work hard knowing that my future will be smart.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I felt so happy the money I received my first transfer. I remember it was very early in the morning when my neighbors called me asking me if I have checked the message from my phone. When I checked it I could not believe it because I had never received such an amount of money before. I informed all my children and we celebrated together that early morning. I knew I would be able to buy a dairy cow which had always been my dream.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent part of my first transfer to buy a heifer. For a long time, I had been forced to buy milk from my neighbors since I could not produce the milk of my own. I had this feeling and desire of owning a cow that could help me produce milk and at an affordable rate. This had not been able to materialize since I did not have enough money to buy one except when I received a transfer from GiveDirectly. I also used part of the money to buy food, clothes, and part of the remaining amount was used to pay school fees for an orphaned child who had just joined form one. The remaining amount of money was used to renovate my house.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money will elevate me from a mud house to a wooden house with an extra room.A wooden house is easier to mantain and it is also beautiful.I will also spend the transfer on buying a dairy cow.This will help me with the basic needs since I will get milk for consumption and for sale.It will also help me pay school fees in the near future.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I wake up at 6 o'clock in the morning and prepare breakfast.I prepare my children for school then wash utensils and do other house chores till noon.I prepare lunch then leave for work in other people's farms ;depending on the availability .I work till late in the afternoon.Evening is the happiest part of my day since I relax after working the whole day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in my life is the inability to satisfy basic needs for my family.I have five children of my own and one orphan whom I taking care of.The small piece of land we have floods during the rainy season.This means that we get very little or no harvest at all.Financial constraints forced my husband to go the neighbouring county to work as a casual labourer.However what he gets is still not enough to satisfy the basic needs and pay school fees.I also depend on casual labour here at home which is not guaranteed.
