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?
At that particular time I was at home washing dishes after having lunch with my family. I heard my phone ring and I couldn't belive my eyes on checking it. It dawned on me that my dream of purchasing livestock and laying school fees arears for my faugter was finally going to come to pass. I shared the news with my daughter who was equally very happy
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I feel my hopes of a better life have been rekindled. I feel some sense of optimism in life. The fact that I have been able to help my daughter acquire her certificate and bought a dairy cow for the family have been a great investment and has awoken the wonderful spirit in me.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used KES 35000 to buy a dairy cow and used KES 20000 to pay school fees for my daughter. I had had to sell all the livestock in my possession to help educate my daughter and having cleared her for four exams, this was an opportune time to clear her fee and at least buy one dairy cow to take care of the family. My daughter had already gotten married but I felt she should at least get her certificates to enable her be independent even in future as she gets married.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I started building my house a year ago but it stalled halfway due to a lack of finances. With this money, I plan to finish up constructing it and also equip it with household furniture and utensils. The current house I have is a small grass-thatched which is uncomfortable to sleep in as well as cooking there. When I have visitors over, I'm forced to look for accommodation for them at my son's uncomfortable house. This will cost me KES 15000. For the rest of the amount, I will purchase dairy cows as a way of investment for future plans.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the afternoon after I have taken my lunch. I take time to rest after hard farm work all morning as I plan my family's activities Farm activities are very tiresome. Afterward, I can go to sell small farm produce like bananas at a nearby shopping center or I attend community meetings.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Being a widower after losing my husband more than 10 years ago, I have brought up my children singlehandedly. It gets very hard sometimes since I depend on small-scale farming as the main source of income. With changes in climate that have affecting rains patterns, farming is no longer sustainable. This has become the biggest hardship since it can get very hard to get alternative source of income.
