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 at home relaxing when I received a call from one of my neighbors and it was through him that I came to know that GiveDirectly had started sending the transfer. After terminating the call, I requested my helper to help me check if I was among the lucky people. My heart was filled with happiness when he confirmed to me that I had received the cash as it was already in my account and I gave thanks to God for using GiveDirectly to transform my life at such a time.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I am more relaxed than before and I no longer worry about where to get money to use in meeting our basic needs and to pay school fees for my grandchildren. This is because my family has enough food for consumption and I was able to clear this year's school fees for my grandchildren. This gives me peace of mind since they're always at school and can concentrate on their studies and when they come back home in the evening, they can eat to their satisfaction.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received my transfer, I spent KES 25000 on the purchase of a dairy cow as a way of investing this money. Dairy farming is an activity that most people rely on in my region due to climatic changes that have rendered crop farming unproductive. In addition to this, I spent KES 5000 on one sack of maize, KES 5000 on clothes, and KES 4000 to pay school fees for my grandchildren since I have been supporting them financially. Using the remaining amount, I spent KES 3500 on the purchase of sand and KES 6500 on six bags of cement that I am planning to use in cementing the floors of my house so that we will no longer be exposed to dusty particles.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Iam a peasant farmer. I do subsistence farming and keep cows as a source of livelihood. I have interest especially in keeping cows ,my plan is to purchase a dairy cow to help and sustain my livelihood. previously ,I had 5 cows but I sold them to cater for school fees. I only have one at the moment , my aspiration is to add other two so that it can be a source of milk to my family and also sell the surplus. I am old and therefore I don't have the energy to engage in active economic activities, therefore I need to have extra dairy cows to take care of so that they can be a source of income to me . The dairy cows will cost approximately USD 500 . As for the rest of the money I will used it to cement the floor of my house.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Iam a village elder . I sit in the chief's committee and Iam involved in deciding most decisions especially touching on the people's life . My happiest part of the day is in the evening when Iam done with my routine duties .It is during this time when I listen my favourite program in the local radio station called Kass FM.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I have faced a myriad of challenges but the biggest is food security .Our area is semi arid and therefore food production is a major issue. Most of the time we are forced to buy food to supplement our production which is low . Maize used to do relatively well , especially the short season variety but since the maize lethal necrosis disease invaded the crops in 2005 their production has been very unstable.
