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 fact that I now have my own goats in my own homestead is the biggest difference in my daily life. I opted to buy them because they would help me in paying school fees for my children. They are still in primary school, I know by the time they reach secondary school they will have multiplied hence making it easy for me to pay their secondary fees. I will be able to take them to higher learning institutions without even straining.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was awakened by the long vibration on my mobile phone. I decided to check who had sent the message at such an hour only to realize it was from GiveDirectly. I was overwhelmed with joy. I knew my poverty life will come to an end with these transfers. I now had the capability to start the projects I had left pending.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent part of my first transfer on buying 6 goats worth KES 3500 each. I have been longing to buy them for a long time but my financial status was very low and I could not afford to buy them. I later bought a few building poles, iron sheets, and nails to renovate my house. My previous house had walls that were almost collapsing. I was always not at peace because of the fear that the walls would break down anytime. In addition to that, I also started the business of selling vegetables. I used to run the business but It later collapsed after an emergency occurred and had to use the capital. I used the remaining amount of money to buy enough foodstuffs for my family.
Enrolled
access_time over 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My desire has been to assist my husband in rising the family since his earnings can not fully support our basic needs. I have wished to start rearing indigenous goats but this has never been accomplished due to inadequate finances. Receiving this money means fulfillment of my longterm dream as I am planning to spend my transfer in purchasing 6 goats at Ksh3500 each. I will sell some when they reproduce and that will serve as the future investment that I will use to educate my children. The remaining part of my transfer will support me to start a grocery business of selling vegetables within the village.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The evening is the happiest part of my day since I usually get time to relax. Unlike in the morning and afternoon when I am busy with my household chores like cooking and washing clothes.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Being a housewife and a total dependent on my husband who is a sawyer. The income from this job is at most 3 dollars per day and this is not enough for the family's upkeep. For the $3 he earns, he is still required to use $1.5 to hire the saw machine per day. This leaves him with nothing to save something that worries me about our future. Therefore, I consider the lack of inadequate finance as the biggest hardship that I have ever faced.
