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 the goats has made my life to be very different and I am proud to mention this. I settled in buying goats because of a few reasons, first, they can live in any climatic condition, they reproduce twice a year and they mature faster compared to other domestic animals. I have been longing to rear them for a long period but I could not afford it because they were costly and I had some basic needs to cater to since I am the breadwinner. My hope is when the offsprings mature and increase in number I will exchange them for a dairy making me wealthier because I will achieve a lot after selling the milk. From the benefits I will be getting I will be able to pay school fees for my children with ease unlike before when I used to strain to get their school fees.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 6 am when I was preparing my children for school when I heard my phone ringing. I quickly checked what the notification was all about, I confirmed it was from GD they had sent my first transfer as they had promised earlier. I was so happy and grateful. I knew all my desires are now achievable.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent part of my first transfer on buying some building materials such as building poles and some few timbers. I wanted to renovate my house which was almost falling. I then bought some goats because I had desired for a long time to keep them but due to my financial stats I could not afford it. I then bought a bed a mattress for my children because we used to share the same bed and some sleeping on the floor. I later bought a solar panel. Previously I was using some candles which were expensive. My children will now be studying at night without staining. I then took a portion of the money to prepare my farm since we are in the planting season. I then cleared school fees arrears for my children and bought some foodstuffs as well.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Being a green grocer is what receiving this money means to me. It has been my longest desire to have this kind of business but due to financial challenges, this dream has never materialized. Considering my village, obtaining fresh fruits and vegetables means waiting until the market day when you can access them. My view was that, when I receive my transfers from GiveDirectly, I will construct a small structure where I can start selling fruits and vegetables. This will earn me more profit, a job that will be my reliable source of income. My second transfer will be invested in livestock rearing and repairing of my house. This will change my livelihood, a transformation that I have longed for.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I usually spend the better part of my day doing house work. When I wake up, I prepare my children to school and thereafter, I clean my compound and leave to fetch from the nearby water tank. When I am back, I prepare our lunch meal when it is available. In the evening, all my children would have come home from school. It is at this time when I get ample time to chat and share meals together. Therefore, I consider this being the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Charcoal burning is what my husband has been doing in the last two years after his contract work ended. Since I am a house wife, I majorly depend on him for our survival. This has made our life so difficult owing to the fact that, getting our daily meals and school fee has become a luxury. His job is so tiresome yet the earnings are very low and therefore, I consider lack of a reliable source of income as my biggest hardship.
