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.
Owning a dairy cow is the greatest achievement I had ever since Give Directly came into my life. I decided to do dairy farming because apart from getting milk from it, I will also be selling the remaining liters to my neighbors. It has been my desire for a long period of time but because I was a casual laborer I could not afford it. The cow is already providing us with milk, I am glad since my children are now healthy because of this milk. Apart from that, there are some liters which I sell to my neighbors which is earning me a good amount of money. I am feeling like I have been empowered financially through these transfers.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 6 am when I was heading to my daily hustle as usual then I heard a notification message on my phone. When I checked its content, I could not believe what I saw because it was an Mpesa message from GIveDirectly indicating they had sent me the first transfers. I was so excited because I have never been sent such an amount before. I was skeptical before whether they would send the money in the first place but when I saw the message, all my doubts were erased. I really thank them for their help I believe that my life will change.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent part of my first transfer on buying a few building materials. I managed to buy 10 iron sheets, several building poles, 20 bags of cement and one lorry of sand. I am planning to construct a house for my son who normally sleeps at my neighbor's house. My house was small it could not accommodate us all. I am glad because soon he will have his own room. Apart from that I also bought one dairy cow at KES 25000. I then bought a mattress and a bed because previously I used to sleep on an old mat. I also paid school fees for my children to avoid the tendency of been sent home every time students are being sent. I am glad I managed to do all these through the help I received from Give Directly.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
In our village, getting a packet of maize flour means walking five kilometers away to get one. This has made me to have the desire to own a shop business within the village, a dream that has never materialized yet due to lack of capital. This case has forced me to depend on my husband who is taping wine as his only source of income. His earnings are never enough to support our family needs and therefore, receiving this money means fulfilling my life goal. I will start a shop business in order to have a reliable source of income. The income from this business will support my children's education and other basic needs.
What is the happiest part of your day?
After my children leaves to school in the morning, I am required to fetch water from another village which takes me three hours to be back home. In arriving home, I feel very exhausted. It is only in the evening that I get ample time to relax my body and therefore, this is the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Life in our village is not easy and considering the current drought, all the nearby water pans has dried up. I am forced to walk almost ten kilometers away to get twenty litres of earth water from another village. This drains my energy and when I am back home, I feel so exhausted. Therefore, lack of clean and safe water is my biggest hardship.
