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 heard a message notification from my phone. My daughter-in-law was at home. I inform her to check out since I do not know how to read. She said that it was a message confirming that I have received money from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy and thank God for this amazing blessing from GiveDirectly. it was one of the happiest days of my life because I have never received such an amount of money. We plan on withdrawing the money the same day. I knew I would be able to purchase a cow.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
30k heifer I didn't had a cow
Buy mikk and it costly
When it reproduce I will no longer
Small scale farming.. I plant mains and beans
Sometimes I sell veg at the market
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
purchasing a heifer is the biggest difference in my daily life. This is simply because I buy milk daily and it is so costly for me. I had always wished to own a dairy cow but this was not possible because I no not have a source of income. I do farming but this is only for consumption sometimes I sell vegetables at the market to get some income to meet my daily household needs. I had no extra savings to buy a dairy cow. Whenever I do not have the money I would go without milk and this is so demoralizing. Currently, I have a heifer which I purchased at KES 30,000. I know in the next few months when it reproduces I will get enough milk for my family and even sell the surplus to earn an income to meet other basic needs. I am so grateful for the support. I have devoted much of my time to this dairy project and I look forward to improving it. GiveDirectly has improved our standard of living.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
The area where I live is swampy and when it rains, water fills my house. Receiving this money will enable me to cement the floor and the outside walls of my house and leave them dry whenever it rains. I plan to use KES 30000 of the transfer to buy a dairy cow that will enable me to sell milk to my neighbors and earn money for food and pay my grandchildren's school fees.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I sell food to market traders every Monday when I am not doing my job. For the last months, I have earned good money that have to supplement the money that I earn from my jobs and I can buy food for my family. This has brought me joy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The lack of a stable source of income is my major challenge. I do not own a cow that can enable me to sell milk and earn money so I have to do casual jobs that are not paying well to sustain the family that stays with me.
