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.
The biggest difference in my daily life that I can proudly mention is the fact that I now own some goats. Being a widow, life has never been easy for me because I had to do some casual jobs so that I could send my children to school. After receiving my first transfer I decided to buy the goats because I was so sure they will make my life run smoothly. First, they reproduce faster and take little time to mature. My wish is when they multiply, I will sell some of the matured offsprings so that I can pay school fees for my children without struggling, buying enough food for them and some other basic needs. Previously I used to struggle so hard since I was the breadwinner and life was never that easy.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 4:00 am when I heard my phone ringing loudly. I was a bit shocked because it was unusual for my mobile phone to ring in such hours of the night. I was so nervous and decided to check its content. I realized it was an Mpesa message from GiveDirectly. They had sent my first transfer as promised. I felt wow. I was so sure I would achieve a lot from the money that I had just received.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent part of my first transfer on buying some seven goats. It has been my desire to buy them for a long period of time but because of income, I could not afford it. I then bought some building materials such as building poles, iron sheets, and some nails. This was purposely for the construction of a new house. The previous one was in bad condition and on the verge of collapsing. Apart from that, it was very small, my children used to sleep at their grandmother's house and they were still uncomfortable. The remaining amount of money, I bought some enough foodstuffs for my family that would take us months' time or even more.
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
A decent house for my family is what receiving this money means to me since as at today, I am living in a very small house whose roof can be blown away anytime by the strong wind we are experiencing in our area. My plan was to use the first transfer grant from GiveDirectly to construct the house something that will earn me back the happiness that I have lost for long ever since my husband died ten years ago. In addition, I have also wished to buy livestock especially goats in order to start rearing. This will change my life for the better, a transformation that I have longed for.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My day is always occupied by the household chores owing that, I am a house wife. When I wake up in the morning, I fetch water from the nearby water pan which is one and half kilometers away from my home. On coming back, I prepare food for my family which we share together. In the evening I get ample time to rest from the busy day and this makes me feel that, evening is the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My life has never been happier as I have wished, owing to the fact that, I live in a disastrous house that gives me fear of collapsing anytime. I rarely get enough sleep at night because of the creaking sound of the iron sheets which are worn out. I therefore, feel that lack of a decent house has been my greatest hardship.
