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?
I was awakened by the loud vibration from my mobile phone this was an indication that there was an incoming message. I decided to wake up my helper so that he could check which might send the message since I am illiterate. Before checking, I heard some of my neighbours celebrating and I definitely knew our money has been sent. After my helper checked, he also confirmed it was an Mpesa message from GiveDirectly. Wow! I had finally received the first transfer that I had anxiously been waiting for. I felt happy and joined the rest in celebrating.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Having my own goats in my compound has brought the biggest difference in my daily life and I am so proud to mention it. First, I opted in buying them because of the climatic condition in my region, secondly, they reproduce very fast and their offsprings normally take the shortest time to mature. Currently, some have started reproducing which is making me be hopeful and ambitious. When they multiply, I will sell the offsprings and send my children to school since some they haven't join the school because they are still young, so by the time they attain the age of joining the school I will have saved enough. To add to that, the money will also help me to cater to my family's needs and other household expenses.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my first transfer on buying some livestock such as goats. This has really been my desire to keep them in my homestead but then I could not afford to purchase them. I also bought some beddings such as a new mattress and some bedsheets. Previously I used to sleep on some old mats which I was always not comfortable and making me have some backpains. I then bought some building materials such as iron sheets, nails, some bags of cement, and gravel. This was purposely for the construction of a special house for my maize mill machine. I then bought some new school uniforms for my children and cleared tuition fees as well. The remaining amount of money I bought some enough foodstuffs for my family that would take us to the next harvesting season.
Enrolled
access_time 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this transfer means a brighter future for my children. This is achievable through provision of quality education which is my biggest ambition. The motivation behind this is to give them ability to secure good employment opportunities. This will help them to cater for their families as well as help me at my old age. To bring this dream to reality, I will purchase goats for rearing that I will use specifically for this purpose. Besides, we shall pool transfers with my cowives and set up a poshomill in our village. This will also generate income for family needs.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Evening is the happiest part of my day after spending most of my time doing tire some activities. These include household chores, farm work and uprooting trumps to burn charcoal. Since they are energy draining I always long for a rest in the evening.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Financial constraint which is a result of unstable source of income is my biggest hardship. Burning charcoal is no longer productive because of scarcity of trees and I only earn 500 shillings a month. Therefore, fending for my four children is very tough. It is due to this that I cannot provide enough food, clothes and school fees. Besides, we don't even have beddings and we sleep on a bed without a mattress. I can simply say we lead a very low quality life that is not fit for humans.
