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 ever since Give Directly came to my village is the fact that I am now more ambitious. I now own a pair of an ox that I acquired from the financial support. I know they will be of great help because they will take little time in ploughing my farms compared to when I used to do the exercise. I believe I will also get increased harvest since my land will be prepared on time and in a very short period of time. Apart from that, I will also hire them to my neighbours at a fee and get money in return which will help me to easily sustain my family needs with ease, unlike before.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was awakened by a loud vibration at around 12:30 am on my mobile phone. I quickly checked its content and realized it as an mpesa message from Give directly. I was not sure if I would get the money during the enrollment. I knew my life will now change greatly. I was very happy.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent part of my first transfer on buying some livestock such as a pair of oxen and three goats. I had been longing to keep them in my compound for a long period of time but I could not afford it. I then started an agricultural project of planting some vegetables. I bought the following for making my project to be a successful one, fertilizers, a variety of seeds, jericans which were purposely for irrigation because it is very dry at my village and a water sprinkler. I had a dream of starting this project for a long period of time but It was costly to me. I am assured of benefiting a lot since I am the only one in my village running such a project. My hope is when the vegetables grow, I will be able to sell them in the markets in large quantities and for my family's consumption as well.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
A non leaking roof, buying livestock, supporting my child's education and vending vegetables is what receiving this money means to me. Currently, my life is very miserable considering that, our household is polygamous yet our husband is a casual labourer. His daily income is very little something that makes us to live in an open roofed house and in some cases we skip our meals. When I receive my first transfer, I plan to construct a one roomed iron roofed house for myself and also to support my child's education. For the second transfer, I plan to buy livestock especially goats, and an oxen that will help me upscale my farming. The remaining amount will help me to start vending vegetables that will provide my daily income. Hence, this will change my life for the better.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I always spend the better part of my day at home owing to the fact that, I am a house wife. My routine work is to fetch water from a water pan which is almost five kilometers away from my home. When I am back, I feel so exhausted and hungry but still I am forced to stay without food up to lunch hours where I prepare my first meal. In the evening, I feel happy since we usually get our dinner together as a family. Therefore, I consider evening as the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Being in a polygamous household where the solely breadwinner is a casual labourer can be the most challenging life. As at today, my husband has three wives yet his daily income is less than five hundred shillings per day. This cannot support our basic needs and hence, we are forced to live in a miserable life that has subjected us into mockery. Therefore, I consider lack of reliable source of income as my biggest hardship.
