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 to me is the biggest difference in my daily life. I had none at first and having goats or any other livestock is a source of wealth to us. They will reproduce and increase in number. I will be able to sell shortly in case of any financial need.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was woken up by a message alert. When I checked the sender, I was filled with joy as I smiled all along and kept on reading the message again and again. To me, it was a relief to the challenges that I have faced over the years. I was thankful to GiveDirectly for their financial support.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent KES 14000 from my first transfer to purchase four goats. I aim to rear them as I had none at first. I am planning to sell them shortly after they reproduce and use the money to buy a dairy cow. I also purchased some building materials such as building poles and to renovate my house which was in a bad condition. I had not been able to renovate it for a long time due to financial constraints. Receiving the transfer enabled me to achieve this. I also bought some water storage equipment such as a water drum.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Transforming my livelihood for the better is what receiving this money means to me. Being in a polygamous household where the husband is old and sick has made me to depend on my son whose support is also inconsistent. This has forced me to engage in charcoal burning in order to supplement the little income from my son. The aid from GiveDirectly has brought a huge blessing since I plan to reshape my life by repairing my house which is partly collapsing, buying of livestock that will breed and multiple and also the remaining amount will support my grand children's education. This is essentially what receiving this money means to me.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I usually spend the better part of my day at the bush doing my charcoal work. When I wake up in the morning, I clean my compound and leave to the bush where I work up to the afternoon hours when I come back home to rest. After dinner in the evening, I feel much relieved from the tiresome day because I get more time to relax. Therefore, I consider evening as the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Burning charcoal in order to supplement the little income from my son is what I have known in my life. Despite my old age, I am forced to engage into this business because, my husband can not work again to provide for the family due to sickness. This job is very labour intensive and considering it being done by an aged woman, it drains much of my energy, leaving me weak and tired. Therefore, I consider lack of a reliable source of income as my biggest hardship.
