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.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a small-scale farmer working on 2 acres of land, alternating between maize and watermelon. I fully irrigate my crops, although I sometimes face challenges. Recently, I lost all my maize due to floods after investing $70 from my first transfer on land preparation. During the dry season, I also experience water shortages, which makes irrigation unreliable. Additionally, I cleared the fee for my daughter in high school of $120. I've been struggling with school fees because my income is not reliable, and I have three other children in elementary school. My hope was high with the maize crop, thinking it would improve our situation, but sadly, I lost it all. With the remaining $10 from the transfer, I bought vegetable seeds, hoping to plant and get something from it to sustain us.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I have been planting only one acre of land due to a lack of capital, even though I own two acres. But with GiveDirectly's support, I was able to utilize the full 2 acres. I saw the hope of getting more produce this season, though unfortunately, I lost all my maize crops on the entire 2 acres to floods.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I received my first transfer message from GiveDirectly while I was on the farm with my wife, clearing the land. When I got the notification, my heart filled with joy. I immediately told my wife, and we were both so happy because we finally had the money to pay our daughter's school fees. Schools were about to open, and we had no money and didn't know where to get the funds. This money came at the perfect time. Thank you, GiveDirectly.
Enrolled
access_time 6 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
I intend to construct a decent pit latrine for my family since we do not have one at the moment. It will cost around $300 to completion. I also plan to buy 10 goats at a cost of $500 and start keeping them as a long-term investment and also as a saving plan. By doing this, I will always have a ready source of income in the event I run into an emergency or venture into another income apportunity that might arise.As for the balance, I will buy household items.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Since the year 2004, I have been doing farming for both subsistence and commercial purposes. In the year 2013, we experienced flooding as a result of swelling of Lake Baringo. As a result, my entire 10 acres of land has since been submerged inside the lake. In order for me to continue with farming, I had to start borrowing idle land from my fellow villagers because I do not have the capital to lease. The land I currently farm is about an acre and the produce I get is insufficient to cater for all the basic needs of my family. If my capital situation persists, I am foreseeing a situation whereby I have to quit my passion of being a commercial farmer.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I received a bumper harvest last month from my 1 acre piece of land and the produce enabled me pay all the school fee arrears for my two children. I am very happy because this is the first time I have zero balance in terms of school fees arrears.
