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 biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I own a dairy cow that produces three litters of milk daily which has saved me from incurring expenses of buying milk from my neighbors like before. The profits I make from selling milk serves in providing basic needs such as food in my family on a daily basis.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was waken up by message from GiveDirectly confirming that money had already been sent . I was very happy since I knew most of my burden relating to finances were solved .
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent 36,000 KES of my first transfer to buy a dairy cow . I am glad that my family can have milk which is very important to my children's health . I also bought a solar lamp and its battery hence my house is nicely light as compared to before when I used traditional lighting system which was very costly in terms of buying kerosene on a daily basis.
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have been buying a litre of milk everyday for the last three years since we do not own a cow. This has cost us more than $9 every month. When I receive this money $350 of my first transfer will be used to buy a dairy cow. This is a frugal way of saving money so as to be used for other domestic needs like food.
Because I want this cow to be productive enough, the remaining amount will be used to put up a dairy shed and store for the cow's food.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I am a part time hairdresser and I serve most of my clients from home. They normally stream into my home from morning till noon. This is the happiest part of my day. Money I get fends for my personal needs and I don't have to burden my husband asking him for money. In most cases I can get up to ten clients per week where I earn $6 per day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Since I got married here about three years ago I have been grappling with typhoid fever throughout the year. Doctors have owed the infection to the consumption of contaminated water. In Kapoleseroi and surrounding community access to clean and safe water for drinking is a huge challenge. All water we use for domestic purposes including drinking are drawn from stagnant and open water pans in the village. In a community which is not open defecation free and still both humans and animals share from the same source of water, our pans have become a safe haven for bacterial infections. My biggest worry is that these infections may escalate to more malignant diseases. I do not have enough money for such uncertainties.
