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.
First and foremost, I want to use this money to build my family a new, decent house because the one we currently reside in is almost falling apart due to damage from heavy rains. To achieve this, I will spend $393 in total, put $300 into Watu credit to buy a motorcycle for business use and pay the remaining amount in installments over time, and spend $120 on four goats.The remaining $287 will be used to buy groceries, clothing, and furniture for the house.
What is the happiest part of your day?
After returning from town, I made the decision to support my family by starting a charcoal-burning business. Though business has not been doing well lately, I did manage to make four sacks that attracted a customer as soon as I finished packing them, earning $200. My family's food needs for a week were met with the help of this money. Seeing the happiness on my wife Neema's face made me very happy and restored some respect between us.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I used to live in town with my family and work part-time on construction sites to support my wife Neema and son. During the rainy season, the types of jobs that I used to do are typically unavailable. During the El Niño rains that hit the country late last year, it became more difficult to find work. This made it impossible for me to even make ends meet, let alone buy food, so I was forced to move back home with my family. Coming home meant beginning over, with no money saved up to even purchase necessities like food and clothing, and a house that is on the verge of collapsing due to the rain weakening it. It depresses me that I can not seem to build my family a decent house and give them a good place to live because of my lack of employment that has resulted to no income.
