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 had gone to a church camp in Loboi, and one afternoon, while we were out for evangelism, I heard my phone buzz with a message notification. I didn't check it immediately, but later, when I did, I was overjoyed to see that it was the cash transfer from GiveDirectly. I couldn't believe it! I quickly told my in-law, who was just as excited because he had also received the money. At that moment, I felt a huge weight lift off my shoulders, knowing that I could finally pay the school fees for my children.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I have always depended on farming to raise money for my two sons' school fees. Every season, I’d plant maize on my four-acre plot, and though it wasn’t much, it got us through. But this year, things were different. The floods came and destroyed everything—my entire crop was washed away. Being a single parent, it’s already hard enough, but losing my main source of income made it feel impossible. Then, I received a transfer from GiveDirectly, and it changed everything. With the money, I was able to pay the school fees for both of my sons. I can’t express the relief I felt knowing that they wouldn’t have to miss out on their education because of the floods. It would have been incredibly difficult for me to raise the money on my own. Now, I can focus on rebuilding what was lost, knowing that their future is still secure.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My two sons are in Form 2, and their school fees have been a growing concern. Normally, I rely on farming to raise the money, but the floods had devastated my crops this season, leaving us with nothing to sell. So, I took $160 from the transfer and used it to pay their fees. Without that, they wouldn't have been able to stay in school. I felt a deep sense of relief knowing that part was handled. After that, I still had to think about their school requirements and transport since they are both boarders. I spent another $20 to buy their school requirements, things like pens and books, and ensured they had bus fare to get back to school. I knew it wasn’t much, but it covered what they needed. Getting them back to their studies was my priority because education is the one thing I believe will open doors for them in the future. With the little left, I focused on our immediate needs at home. I bought water containers for $7, which we had been lacking. Then, I used the remaining money to stock up on basic food items like sugar and beans. It wasn’t a lot, but it was enough to keep us food secure for a while.
Enrolled
access_time 3 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
Poultry farming is ideal here due to the hot and dry climate. I plan to spend about $300, to build a structure for the chicken and buy 20 hens. This will add to my current stock of 5 chickens. Since they do well and fetch good prices in the market, I'm positive it will sustain my children's education.
Tomato farming fetches good profits. I have seen my neighbors make it. Plan to try my luck on my half an acre piece of land. It means I will spend about $600 on tomato farming. If everything goes well, it can fetch me up to $2000. This amount can easily support my family for a year.
Furthermore, I need to set aside the rest of the transfer for my children's education. Two of them are now in secondary school. Paying school fees on time ensures their stability in school.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Farming is my main source of income. Currently, I have planted half an acre of vegetables. The vegetables are doing well and about to be harvested. It brings me joy and optimism for the future. I hope to sell them and pay for my children's education.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
This is a lucrative farming area, we depend on crop farming. Crops such as maize, beans, onions, vegetables or even tomatoes. They do well here although it needs a lot of capital to pump water and general farm supplies. Since we depend on irrigation, we can farm at any time of the year.
In order to succeed in farming, we need funds. I have enough farm area but cannot utilize it due to financial constraints. This has affected my ability to provide for my family. I have about an acre of unutilized land.
