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.
I have been a livestock keeper for a long time in our village. My passion for livestock was derived from the fact that these are living assets which I can readily depend on in case of any financial crisis and daily milk sale is a source of income. Considering that I do not have a stable source of income to depend on, I always struggle to keep my livestock more and more productive. My family needs have been overwhelming that I couldn't improve my livestock farming, instead, it was facing a risk of being sold out to meet our needs. Because of this, I spent KES 49000 of the transfer to buy a cow and 12 goats to keep in my homestead. With the cow, I know it will reproduce and have many of them. I will be getting milk from the cow for both household consumption and sale for an income. Soon, I will have more offspring that will act as my financial security in my family.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was woken up early in the morning by a message alert on my phone. I checked the contents and I was greatly overjoyed on realizing that I had received some cash from GiveDirectly. I thanked them for financial support.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I majorly rely on farming as my source of income. I have a passion for livestock keeping thus I prefer to crop farming since I can earn from the daily milk sales. My aim in livestock farming is that they reproduce and increase in number thus I can be able to sell to sort me out financial needs such as educating my grandsons who are young and living with me. I spent KES 49000 of the transfer on buying a cow to add to my herd. I am happy that it will reproduce and have many offsprings that will increase my financial security. I will also be selling the milk in order to earn some cash. In addition, I bought 12 goats at KES 25000 to keep in my homestead. I spent the remaining amount to pay for my grandsons' school fees, bought some foodstuffs and other household expenses.
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My entire life has been depending on livestock rearing. The constant drought in our area has swept away all my livestock some months ago. Receiving this money means I will the able to restart my livestock rearing business something I have lost for long. I am planning to spend my transfer to purchase goats that can endure the harsh weather conditions in my area.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Evening is the happiest part of my day because I get to meet my grandchildren when they come back from school. I normal narrate stories to them and this helps me to relieve my stress.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The loss of my livestock due to drought in our area has turned my life into a mocking stock something that does not give me a piece of mind. Currently, am forced to depend on my children who have their families to take care of. This has made me feel like I am a burden to them. Therefore, I consider the lack of a reliable source of income to restart my livestock rearing business as my biggest challenge in life.
