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 transfer has enabled me to pay partly for a loan that I had used to acquire a motorcycle. My husband had lost his job for two months and providing for the family was a difficult task for us considering that we had no source of income to depend on. Thus acquiring this motorcycle has changed my life since I earn good money through it. I can comfortably provide for my family's basic needs such as foodstuffs as well as meeting other household needs.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was informed by a neighbour that GiveDirectly had finally sent the transfer to us. This alone made me happy as I hurriedly went for my phone which had been off for some hours. When I checked, it was a reality indeed GiveDirectly had sent into my mpesa account. I was thankful to them for the money.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent KES 26000 of the transfer to pay for a motorcycle I had acquired on loan. Having this motorcycle has improved our lives because its the only source of income I have currently. In addition, I spent KES 10000 to buy three goats which I am currently rearing in my homestead. I did not have any livestock before. I thank GiveDirectly I now own the goats. Apart from this, I paid school fees for my children, for them to continue with their studies without any interruption concerning school fees. I spent the remaining amount to buy foodstuffs adequate for my family daily.
Enrolled
access_time almost 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means my dream of investing in a motorbike taxi is finally coming to reality. Currently, I depend solely on my husband's earnings, and given that he is a driver, his income is hardly enough to meet the household's needs. The only mode of transportation here is a motorcycle, this is a sector I want to venture into, particularly transportation of charcoal to Mombasa town. On a good day, one can earn up to ksh 2000. If I combine this with what my husband brings home, the issue of financial instability will be addressed. Again, I want to invest in agriculture, particularly maize farming and to achieve this, I will use part of my transfers to purchase oxen to assist in timely cultivation and ultimately get better yields.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Morning is the happiest part of my day. Waking up to a happy family everyday brighten my morning. I usually wake up very early to prepare my children for school thereafter attend to household chores. And during planting session, like this one, i spend the better part of my day in the farm. The positive energy that I create every morning is what keep me all day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of a sustainable source of income has been the biggest hardship I've ever faced in life. Being a housewife with no income generating activity, am forced to depend on my husband on everything, something that is frustrating since not all the times does he get money. He is on a contractual basis with no job security. Whatever he sends me is not ever to even feed the family. We have children who are in school also. Their arrears are running into thousands of shillings something that worries me every day. I learnt with a lot of joy that in the next month or so, our transfers will be in. I just want to be part of the support system in raising and educating our children. Thanks to Give directly for giving back my lost hope.
