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?
It was around 9am while preparing to go the farm. That's when I heard a message alert on my phone, on checking I had received KES 55,000 from GiveDirectly. On seeing the good news we celebrated with my husband who was with me at the time.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I received the transfers is the payment of school fees for my kids. This has made my kids concentrate on their studies especially last term and this term now that they are in their last school year.
Secondly, I am also grateful for the heifer. This is because once it reproduces it will aid in school fees payment.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a mother of eight and a grandma of one. To feed my family I rely on small-scale farming of maize, beans, and cabbages. My husband also worked as a tire shoemaker and vendor for the past 27 years. From his income, we have been paying school fees for my kids.
During enrollment, my major two goals were school fees payment and the purchase of a heifer. When I received the transfers, I spent KES 25,000 on the payment of school fees arrears for my three daughters in high school.
Secondly, I spent KES 20,000 on a heifer. This is because I have two dairy cows and this will be an alternative milk source during their dry spells. Additionally, once it reproduces it will aid in school fees payment.
Lastly, I spent KES 6,400 on school uniforms and the latest clothing fashion for my family.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means an increase in income for our household. We have one dairy cow and we milk 6 liters a day. Out of this, we sell 3 liters at KES 35 a liter earning KES 105 a day, and consume the rest. That cash is unsustainable because we have a family of 10 to cater to. We, therefore, intend to acquire one more dairy cow at an estimated cost of KES 35,000 and increase milk production to at least 11 liters a day. We will be able to sell at 8 liters a day and increase our income and lead an improved life. Having an improved income will bring a sigh of joy to our household.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In the last 6 months, we were able to harvest sufficient maize in our 0.5 acres of land and this has brought happiness to our lives. Initially, we hardly harvest 1 bag of maize on that piece of land but we managed to harvest 5 bags of it 2 weeks ago. I am filled with joy that at least I will not spend more cash on food this year.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Financial constraints are the challenge we are currently facing. The only income we rely on is the sale of milk and we earn approximately KES 105 a day. That income is hard to sustain a family of 10 yet we have 7 children in school at different levels; 1 in college, 3 in secondary level, and 3 in primary level. We sold almost all our livestock at the expense of educating our children and now we have left with only 1 cow. It angers me that we might sell the only remaining cow in case of an emergency that requires a huge amount of cash.
