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 filled with happiness when I receiving a message from GiveDirectly that informed me of the receipt of the first transfer that morning. My life had been so hard as I had been buying milk every day from the neighborhood for more than two years. This was so expensive, and had been eagerly waiting for this opportunity to finally invest in a lactating cow. I was with my spouse whom I ensured that she also check and confirm the total amount in the account. We could not doubt the message since everyone in our neighborhood received it at the same time just like we were told, thus had to celebrate as soon as we saw the matching figures in the account.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I received the transfer is the dream that came true when I finally obtained a lactating cow. This has brought a huge difference in our household as we don't spend even a coin to buy milk but instead, we earn some on selling two liters of milk every day after getting enough to use in the household. I am grateful for the decision that we made with my spouse and hope that the second transfer will bring forth a greater joy than the one we are currently experiencing.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After a long time of spending a lot on buying milk every day, GiveDirectly came and made our prayers come true. We had been planning how best we would spend the money once we withdrew, and of all that we had enlisted, obtaining a lactating cow was at the top of the list. With KES45000, I managed to secure a good breed currently lactating and giving us enough milk both for the household use and also a surplus of two liters that we have been selling to the neighbors. Even though we had to spend that much on a cow, everyone is satisfied with the results as we are currently earning and saving that has made it easier for us to buy other household foodstuffs. With the remaining KES10000, we had agreed as a household to buy a tree that we will soon be cutting it down to produce timber meant for the renovation of our house. We had been hoping to remove the mud walls on our current house and replace them with timber that will not only make it presentable but will also last longer with easier maintenance since it doesn't need to be smeared with more mud every time it rained as we had been doing.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
As a nuclear family with young children who consume milk daily, we usually spend KES 30 on purchasing milk from our neighbors. Whenever we do not have funds, we would do without the precious commodity. We have been doing this for some years because we do not have a cow. So, receiving this money means we shall afford to buy a dairy cow, hence, ensuring that my family gets adequate milk for consumption and sale of any surpluses. Precisely, I will utilize about KES 35 000 on purchasing the cow. Also, I will use approximately KES 15 000 on fencing my compound and paddocking my land. Finally, I will spend any remaining amount on starting up a shop business.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I always wake up at dawn to attend to my fruit and vegetable nurseries. This would run from mid-morning to early afternoon. As such, the happiest part of my day is in the afternoon when I am taking some rest knowing that I have accomplished my roles and responsibilities as the main breadwinner for my family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Since I am a farmer trading on seedlings of various fruits and vegetables, the biggest hardship I have faced is a poor market. Demand for my products is unpredictable owing to the unpredictable and unfavorable climatic conditions in our area. The fluctuations in the market adversely impact our income. This has made it difficult for us to make any significant savings that could be spent on various needs such as the purchase of a dairy cow.
