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 6 AM when I preparing my daughter for school, then my phone started ringing. I then asked my helper to check who it might be. After checking, she realized it was an mpesa message from GiveDuirectly. Wow! I had finally received the first transfer that I had anxiously been waiting for. I really couldn't hold my joy.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Having have started the poultry farming had really brought the biggest difference in my daily life. I started this project due to favorable weather conditions in my region which help it do well, in two weeks to come some will have started to lay eggs, this will make them increase in number within a short period of time. so I will be selling the chicks in large numbers hence making a profit. This will uplift my standard of living hence making me pay my bills in time.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my first transfer on buying some building materials such as iron sheets, building poles ad nails. I wanted to construct a special for my chicken because they have. I then bought some bags of cement and sand, and some bricks purposely for the renovation of my house. I wanted it to be decent and permanent. I then bought some new clothes for my children and mine. I then cleared school fees for my daughter and bought him some stationery that he was lacking. The remaining amount of money, I bought some enough foodstuffs for my family and some household items such as jerricans, utensils and many more.
Enrolled
access_time almost 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Since the demise of my husband almost 11 years ago, I have been living a life of sorrow because even owning a house has been a challenge to me. This has forced me and my daughter to seek refuge from my mother-in-law's house but likely enough, one of our relatives offered me the support of 22 pieces of iron sheets to construct a separate structure for myself and pay him later once lucky comes on my favor. I am proud to learn that the arrival of GiveDirectly means a better life to me since I will be able to sort the debt of Ksh 13,200 for the iron sheets and this will give me the confidence of owning my house. On the other hand, I plan to invest in livestock rearing in order to help me in paying school fees for my daughter when she advances her studies to secondary. To accomplish this, I intend to use 580 dollars to buy 10 goats at $30 each and 2 indigenous dairy cows at $140 each. This will change my livelihood for the better and hence, a transformation that I have ever wished.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The evening is the happiest part of my day since it is at this time when I can relax and share a meal with my daughter. Unlike in the morning and afternoon hours when I find myself busy working in the bush as a charcoal burner, a job which is very exhaustive.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
As a window and the sole breadwinner for my family, I have faced the challenge of providing our basic needs say; housing, school fees, better clothing, and even daily meals. I once worked as a maid but due to its low income, I found it wasting much of my time yet meeting the needs was difficult. I decided to return home and opt for charcoal burning as the only hope for me. With my much struggle, I am still challenged due to the laborious nature of this job. Therefore, I consider the lack of a sensible source of income as my biggest hardship.
