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.
Owning the pair of oxen to me is the biggest difference in my daily life. This is because I have been using my own hands to till my land for a long period of time. This was tiring and I was not getting some good harvests at all. I am now a happy farmer because I will be getting some good harvests since the pair can plough many acres at a short period of time. To add to that I will also be hiring them to my neighbors at a fee. This will be my source of income which will also boost my standard of living.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 6 am when I heard my phone ringing. Since I am illiterate, I decided to call my son so that he can check and inform me of the content of the notification. He realized it was a message from GiveDirectly they had sent my first transfer. I felt so happy and started thinking about how we could utilize the money.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent a big portion of my first transfer on buying some livestock such as a pair of oxen and two goats. This has been my dream for a long period of time but I could not afford due to lack of financial support. In addition to that, I cleared school fees for my grandchildren because they have been missing some exams in every term. The remaining amount of money, I bought foodstuffs and some other households items for my family.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Raising livestock has been my profession ever since I was young. I have enough experience and it will be easy for me if purchase them with this transfer. My main aim is to educate my son up to tertiary level who will be the first one out of my sixteen children. I believe that once he gets education, he will be able to take care of me and himself. Because I am too old to engage in manual jobs, the livestock will finance his education as well as providing other needs like food and clothing.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I spend my day in the field herding my neighbour's livestock. The only reward I get from this is milk but it is not in plenty because of low productivity. This work is not motivating at all but I have to do it because I do not have a stable source of income. I always wish for evenings to come so that I can have enough time to rest. This saves me the agony of running after the animals to prevent them from invading people's farms.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My two wives died and the younger wife deserted me leaving behind six young children. Ever since then I have been struggling with casual jobs to provide for them. All went well until ten years ago when I got a compound fracture in my arm that made me unable to work. Currently I depend on weaving ropes that earn me less than 300 shillings a month. This situation has put me into depression because I do not have anyone to help me and even my children who are in a position to do so have forsaken me.
