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 busy doing my house chores when I heard my phone ringing and when I picked it to check, that was when I realized that I had received money from GiveDirectly. I was overwhelmed with joy, thanked God for the support that I had just received as I knew that all my plans would be accomplished now that I had the money at hand. I am happy that the organization kept its promise of sending us the cash.
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 happy and stress free unlike before. This is because I now have water at my doorstep and I eat to my satisfaction as I was able to acquire a water tank and two sacks of maize using my transfer. I have been using this tank to harvest rain water and due to this, I do not incur any cost of hiring a motorcycle to help me ferry water from the river to home. In addition, I get to dress in clean clothes always since I have enough water at my doorstep and this has boosted my self-esteem.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon receiving my transfer, I purchased a water tank worth KES 19400 so that I can be using it to harvest rainwater for domestic use during the dry season. I have a leg problem that does not allow me to walk for a long-distance or do something that will strain it. Because of this, I usually hire a motorcycle to help me in ferrying water from the river and this is costly. Also, I purchased a barbed wire worth KES 7000 that I am planning to use in fencing a part of my land where I am planning to plant some animal feeds and a Kukunet worth KES 2600 to use in building a bigger feeding ground for my chicken as I am planning on expanding my poultry project. In addition to this, I managed to spend KES 10300 on clothes, KES 6000 to purchase two sacks of maize, KES 1000 on utensils after saving KES 3000.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money will enable me to buy fencing materials worth $300 to fence my compound. I always tie my cattle with ropes to prevent them from destroying my neighbor's crops and this has hindered them from getting enough feeds. I also intend to spend $35 to purchase a 3000-liter water tank for harvesting rainwater for drinking. I will also build a modern chicken coup for my poultry using $50 of my transfer, then add 20 more chicks for $2 each.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My usual day entails working in my 1-acre piece of land each morning after getting enough feeds for my two cattle. I am always happy during the morning hours while attending to my cattle and also my farm since these are my main source of livelihood.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Financial constraints have always been the biggest hardship I face in life. I own one cow which produces 3 liters of milk daily. I usually sell 2 liters @ 30 shillings per liter which earns me 60 shillings daily. I spend all this money to buy food for my family, thus none is left to support the other household needs. I have always wished to fence my compound to restrict my cattle from destroying my neighbor's crops, buy a water tank for harvesting rainwater as well as building a more spacious chicken coop for my Poultry, but lack of financial support has hindered me from accomplishing the same.
