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.
Having dairy cows has totally made my life very different. Currently, I am getting plenty of milk for my family consumption which is making my family and I more healthier. To add on that I am planning to sell the few liters of the milk to the local market and my neighbors. The money that I will be getting will be my source of income. This will really boost my living standard. Secondly, when the cows reproduce I will sell the offsprings so that I can buy some more livestock like goats. This will make me wealthier. I will not have to struggle anymore in providing my family with basic needs. Previously, my children could be sent home for school fees several times and this was affecting their academic performance. They could also starve and miss some other basic needs as well. But the coming of GiveDirectly to my village has made the poverty life that I used to have to come to an end.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 4.00 am when I heard my phone ringing. When I checked what the message was all about. I realized it was from GiveDirectly. They had sent my first transfer. I was so excited because I was sure I will achieve a lot. I really thank God for bringing GD in my village and being among the beneficiary.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent part of my transfer on buying two dairy cows at KES 34000. I settled on keeping the dairy cows because they will be of great help to me since I will be getting milk for free. I then bought a bed at 7000 and a mattress at 5000 because previously I used to sleep on an old torn mat. I also bought some stationery for my children so that they can study without any difficulties. I later bought clothes because my previous ones were all torn. With the remaining amount of money, I bought sufficient foodstuffs for my family. This is because we have been starving for a while since our farms have been unproductive due to the long drought.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Education is the key to success. This is indeed true because without it one is confined in the vicious cycle of poverty and prosperity becomes fiction. My elder children are not educated enough to grab the opportunities in the society. They are casual labourers rooted in the cocoon of poverty. This situation hurts me and I wouldn't want my youngest daughter to go through the same. I have therefore devoted myself to educate her no matter what comes my way. I believe education will mould her to become the ideal person she desires. To fulfill this ambition, I will purchase goats that I will use to finance her education. This is because goats are drought resistant and they multiply quickly thus there is hope for high returns within a short time.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Getting food is a hard puzzle for me. Sometimes I have to choose between lunch and supper. Who would want to sleep on an empty stomach after such a rough day? I therefore prefer spending the entire day hungry and because I am busy it doesn't hurt much. It is only in the evenings when I am sure of a meal and such a feeling makes it the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Imagine depending on subsistence farming in a drought stricken area. This is almost impossible and to supplement my income, I burn charcoal and engage in other casual duties. However, this is still not enough because at my age I am not very strong to make more money. This means providing basic needs for my family is such a struggle. I cannot purchase the cheapest things like a mat that costs 200 shillings for a bedding. My bed is a wire mesh that I collected from a neighbour's dust pit supported by pieces of wood. To save myself from the pain, I lay rags that act as a mattress. As if this is not enough, my clothes are countable and even my neighbours know the days I wear a certain dress. Besides, I cannot remember the number of times that my family has gone without food.
