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 at the hospital bed sick with a throat problem when I noticed I had received the Mpesa message carrying my transfer. I had just been called by my colleagues over the phone to be notified about the transfer they had received. I was with my daughter who verified on my phone and confirmed that I had received my transfer. I felt very happy and relieved after receiving my transfer that would help me in seeking proper medication since I had pending hospital bills. I had to send my daughter to go to cash out my transfer.
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 am happy that I was able to seek medical care for myself after undergoing a series of check-ups. I am positive that I will be able to get a permanent solution to my sickness once I undergo the operation. In addition, I was able to boost my goat rearing activity.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 15,000 to seek proper medication for myself by undergoing a series of screenings since I am diagnosed with throat growth. I also use KES 12,000 to purchase 4 goats to boost my livestock rearing a job that has been supporting my family. I also bought proper bedding for my husband for KES 10,000 because the one he had was in bad condition. I am planning to use the remaining amount to seek more medical care since I am preparing to undergo an operation.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means food security to my household. This is because I am a subsistence farmer and I intend to upscale my farming by tilling my 3 acres of land. Currently, I use a hoe during land preparation which is time-consuming and also very tiresome. My harvests are very low usually, 1sack of 90kgs and it takes me 2 months, then I supplement from the shop. I, therefore, plan to spend $400 of my transfers to buy oxen and ox-plough that will help me to have early land preparation and also to till a big portion of my farm. This will be a boost to me since I will be able to solve the food insecurity in my household. Part of my transfer ($100) will help me to buy a water tank that I will use to harvest and store rainwater for my consumption. The remaining amount will help me to buy 7 goats at $300 to act as my store of wealth that will support me in the future.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Despite being less energetic, I am still forced to do charcoal work to get some cash for a meal, because at the moment, farming is not reliable. This means I spend a better part of my day in the bush doing the charcoal work. In the evening, I usually get ample time to rest and re-energized for the next day's work. Hence, I consider the evening as the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Food insecurity has been the biggest hardship that I have ever faced in my life. This is because I am a subsistence farmer and I depend on hoe during land preparation. This method is time-consuming and sometimes I get a very little harvest, usually, 1 bag of 90kgs which takes me only 2 months. Most of the time, I have to seek help from my son who is doing casual jobs. Sometimes, I am forced to engage in vending charcoal but since I am not energetic enough I do not rely much on this.
