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 in my bed relaxing after having a very busy and tiring day when I discovered that there was a new message on my phone. At first, I ignored it, but a few moments later, another text popped in. I opted to check and I was shocked to confirm that it was an Mpesa message from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy and thanked God for answering my prayer in good time.
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 was finally able to accomplish my dream of practising commercial farming. For years, I have been yearning to start this project but I could not afford to purchase the requirements and all the funding. After doing lots of research I realised that this kind of farming is very in my region since it's hardly practised in the whole location. Therefore I managed to prepare my farm ( four acres) and plant maize. I am so optimistic that in the few three months they will be ready for the market and I will supply them in different regions within my location. I am convinced that the returns will empower me enough to take good care of my family since it has been a struggle all along.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 20000 of my first transfer on paying school fees for my two children in primary boarding school. Their exams were around the corner and I was so worried that there might end up missing it since there was a huge arrear. I also managed to purchase chickens, wire mesh and iron sheets and timber. I had intended to start poultry farming which I believe will do perfectly well. In addition to that, I started commercial farming whereby I will be planting maize and supplying them in different zones. I finally bought food for my six family members and cleared all the pending bills.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I had thought of starting some projects, one was to keep the chicken and the other was maize farming both were on a large scale. The undertakings were to begin as soon as I got money but unfortunately, the flow of cash has not been that consistent. Though I planned to start these projects, there are also other important things that I will do first when I receive these transfers and one of them is paying school fees for my children so they can learn without any disruptions. I plan to divide the transfers to achieve all these as follows; 30,000 KES for school fees, 40,000 KES for the farming project, 30,000 for chicken rearing, and keep the remaining balance for food. Receiving this money, therefore, means my dreams will be accomplished and I will also not have to worry about school fees anymore.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I had a small sister that I was living with for close to 10 years. Last year December she got married and was blessed with a baby girl in March this year. This brought joy and happiness to my life because I knew that I had raised her well and now she is ready to start her own family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The current challenge that I face is lack of money. The economic situation in the country does not allow me to do other projects that can be an additional source of income for my family. I had dreams of rearing chicken and maize farming on a large scale but unfortunately, the insufficient flow of money has made this impossible. I feel frustrated because I cannot accomplish what I have always desired to do in my life.
