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 felt so happy the moment I received money from GiveDirectly. We had been promised by GiveDirectly officers that we were going to receive the money on 12th of February. However, when that date came none of us received any money from GiveDirectly. We go so anxious and we could only keep checking our phones from then on to see whether we had received the money overnight. It was not until 14th of the same month that we received our money and the amount of joy experienced was just beytond measure. We felt so happy as a family knowing very well that our plans were finally going to be actualized. Joy was replicated all through the village.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the cow that I was able to buy with this transfer. I have always desired to have a dairy cow and improve the livelihood of my family but due to financial constraints could not allow me to do this. I was not only able to buy a dairy cow but also dig a water pan that will make this kind of economic activity more viable to me. I will be able to buy additional livestock without having to worry ablout the perrenial water problem here and earn more income for the family. I was also able to fence my compound and this has led to an improvement in my home as well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used KES 20000 to buy a dairy cow and used the remaining KES 35000 to create a water pan and fence my compound. Dairy keeping is one of the main economic activity in our area and it is for this reason that I decided to buy one since it is going to help us as a family in future. The water pan digging was informed by the constant shortage of water especially during the dry season and which often leads to decline in milk production from the dairy cattle. I plan to use the second transfer to buy additional livestock that will enable me earn more income for my family as well as have them as a means of financial security for any emerging needs like payment of school fees for my children who will be joining various secondary schools in the near future.
Enrolled
access_time almost 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am planning to construct my own water pan for my livestock and domestic use so I no longer have to depend on my neighbors for water. This will cost me about $100 of my first transfer.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I am an owner of two dairy cows. When maize farming flopped due to a soil borne disease, it is my dairy cows that have constantly sustained my live for a long time. Thus I spend most part of my day to feed and look after them, which makes me happy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
For a long time maize farming has declined in production and most farmers have to depend on dairy farming for survival. Recently, milk prices have dropped to $0.2 per litre thus making the cost of living hard especially with children in school.
