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.
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I have a daughter whom we have been struggling to raise her secondary school fees with huge arrears. We intend to clear the arrears and pay her school fees to avoid interrupting her education as she will be completing her secondary school next year. The first transfer from GiveDirectly will be spent on clearing her arrears of KES 10000, and the second transfer will be spent on next year's education expenses. I feel elated that my daughter will finish her secondary education without being sent home for school fees.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Because we received adequate rainfall in the last 6 months, we harvested plenty of fish from the lake, and we were able to sell surplus, and this improved our lives to a greater extent. Before the rainfall, we were unable to have adequate food yet we entirely depend on fishing in our region. At least we can afford 3 meals a day now, and this is what makes me happy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of sustainable sources of income has been the greatest challenge that we are currently facing. Being a housewife depending on a meager income from my husband working as a casual laborer has led us to a miserable life. My husband usually sends us an average of KES 2000 a month from his salary which is inadequate for a family of 6. Keeping in mind the household recurrent expenditures and education expenses makes me feel myopic about the future of our children. My dream of educating our children to improve their futures has faded away due to our current financial crisis and this has broken my heart.
