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 heard the good news about the transfer at around 4 pm. I had been busy the entire day doing my household chores. I did not release I received the transfer until the time when my helper come to the house. He inform me that most of the people who had been enrolled in the program had received the transfer. I was eager to know if I had received it as well so I handed over the phone to confirm my account balance. I was very happy when he disclosed to me that I had also received the transfer. I thanked God and the organization for keeping their promise.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Starting a local dairy farming a future investment for the family is the biggest difference in my daily life. I am optimistic that I will be able to sell milk to earn income when they reproduce. With this income, I will be able to cater for all my necessities like food and clothing without struggling.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 22,000 to purchase two local dairy cows. I had a desire to own livestock as a future investment and a reliable source of income for the family. I will be able to sell milk around the community when they reproduce. In addition, I bought a bed and mattress for KES 9000, this is because we were using an old traditional bed with rags as bedding which was not comfortable. With the remaining amount, I decided to save it in our women's savings group. It will assist me in the future whenever I encountered any financial emergency.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Our nearby town is growing so fast because of the primary school located in our area. This has given me the urge to have land to construct some rentals for the teachers or other potential tenants. By doing so, I will be having a reliable source of income for my family because currently, I depend on charcoal burning. Considering the status of our area, the land is still cheap and it will cost me 40000 KES to acquire 1 acre. On this land, I will use the remaining amount to construct a 4 door semi-permanent house that I will rent to earn me monthly income which I estimate to be 4000 KES. Thus, this is generally what receiving this money means to me.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Despite the many challenges that I face in my life, I am so grateful for my husband who has always ensured that we consistently get at least one meal a day. This is something that I can not take for granted because I understand how hard he struggles to put food on the table. Hence, I consider this has what has brought joy to my life.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
In our area, we used to depend on farming but currently, this is not a venture to rely on because of the unpredictable weather conditions. I opted for charcoal burning as an alternative but again trees are in scarcity. This has forced me to depend on my husband who is selling local brew, a job that earns him utmost 200 KES per day. This income can not sustain our needs and we sometimes survive on one meal a day. Hence, the lack of a reliable source of income is the main challenge that I am currently struggling with.
