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 12 noon I had gone to take my phone from my neighbor no sooner had I switched on my phone is when I saw a message notification. I decided to check its contents since I wasn't expecting a message from anyone. I was overwhelmed with joy after realizing that GiveDirecty had sent my first transfer into my account. I later decided to call some of my family members and started planning how best we can utilize the cash.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
For all those years, I have been dreaming to own assets especially livestock but since they were very expensive I could not afford them. Therefore after receiving the first transfer I settled on purchasing goats that I will depend on in case of any financial constraints. Goats can be reared in every climatic condition and since my region is semi-arid I believe they will adapt very fast. Also, they reproduce faster and their offsprings take less time to mature. Therefore this guarantees me of having many of them in a short period of time. When they multiply I will start a business fi selling time and save the money for other projects. Currently, some have even start reproducing and in few months to come, I will no longer strain in meeting the family's basic needs. Therefore having the goats makes the biggest difference in my daily life.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my buying poles, iron sheets, timber, nails, and thread. This was fr the construction of a new house for my son since he has been seeking shelter from his friends for all those years considering mine was small. In addition to that, I bought several gaits that will be living assets to depend on in case of any financial stud. I the paid school fee for my son who is in his final year. Also, I bought enough foodstuff for my family.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I believe illiteracy is the mother of all problems and I do not want my children to suffer later in life. My biggest ambition is to see them through formal education and change the story of their lives. This will give them the power to compete for job opportunities and be able to provide for themselves as well as care for me at my old age. Receiving this money therefore means purchasing goats for rearing to finance their education. These animals thrive well in this area because they are drought resistance.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening after a long day of energy draining duties. I always long for this time because I get to rest and regain my energy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My life as a widow has never been easy since my husband died 10 years ago leaving me with 5 small children. I took up the responsibility of raising them single handedly through my charcoal burning job. The area is currently deforested making it less productive and the much I earn is around 750 shillings a month. It is difficult to provide enough basic needs for a family of six. This forced my eldest son to drop out of school because of the accumulated fee arrears. My 4 children are not spared either and they are victims of the same. They are even too old for their grades because they miss school oftenly forcing them to repeat classes. All these are results of financial instability which is my biggest hardship.
