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.
I primarily depend on farming as a source of income thus I always try to improve it to increase my returns. The high cost and poor land preparation had been my major challenge for long. I used to hire from neighbors oxen to plough my farm and the cost of hiring was high for a bigger acreage. I had to cultivate my land using hoes which are not effective when tilling a bigger acreage. My farm was mostly not fully cultivated thus when I received this money, I purchased a pair of oxen to aid me in my farming. Having a pair of oxen to me is more effective and economical compared to using hoes, and this is the biggest difference in my daily life. I know when the time for cultivation comes, I will prepare my farm early enough and fully utilize it for better harvests. I am assured of effective-low cost land preparation thus hopeful of a better harvest which will ensure food security in my household.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was my helper who notified me of a Mpesa message on my phone. As she read out the contents of the message to me, I could not contain the inexpressible joy having received my token as promised by GiveDirectly. I thoughtfully planned for this transfer to transform my life.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent a larger portion of my first transfer to purchase a cow at KES 20000 and a pair of oxen at KES 29000. It had always been my desire to have livestock in my homestead since they are the only living assets that one can have in our area. As for the cow, I am expecting it will reproduce thus have many of them. I will also be benefitting from the milk that it will produce at my household level and sales. As for the pair of oxen, it aids me in my farming since I was using hoes which are not effective on larger acreage. I spent the remaining amount of money to buy foodstuffs and other basic necessities, as well as paying for other household expenses.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Owning an oxen, one indigenous dairy cow and supporting my grand children's education is what receiving this money means to me. Currently, I am a widower who depend on farming but because I am not energetic enough, my efforts to have more harvests are limited. My wish has been to buy an oxen and an ox plough with my first transfer in order to upscale my farming. I also plan to use my second transfer on buying an indigenous dairy cow that will produce milk for sell within the village, thus, a reliable source of income to me. The remaining amount will support my grand children's education. This will change my life for the better, a transformation that I have longed for.
What is the happiest part of your day?
When I wake up in the morning, I usually clean my compound and take my ten goats to tither them. Thereafter, I work at my farm which is just close to my home and this makes my afternoon tiresome. In the evening, I usually get ample time to rest and hence, this is the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Being a widow with no reliable source of income is my biggest hardship. Currently, I depend on farming but considering my age, I am no longer energetic enough such that, my harvests are usually few, mostly a half sack of maize. In most cases, I am forced to skip some meals due to lack of money that can aid me in buying from the shop. Therefore, I consider lack of a reliable source of income as my biggest challenge.
