GDLive Newsfeed
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.
Acquline's family
access_time over 1 year ago
Acquline enrolled.
"The plan I have with the transfers is to purchase a 5000 liter water tank which I would use to store water. This water will be of great significance since I'll be able to do farm irrigation. I will also purchase a cow at $500 which would provide my household with milk. It would help me a great deal since I wouldn't have to buy milk any more. The water tank will be a good source of water for the cow since I plan to do zero crazing. The remaining amount will be used to purchase the farm products and also grass for the cow I will purchase. The transfers will surely change my life positively."
Dennis's family
access_time over 1 year ago
Dennis enrolled.
"My ambition is to earn a living through agribusiness. When I finished my high school education, I did not proceed further for lack of school fees. Seven years down the line, I do casual jobs to make ends meet. The money I get is unreliable as it is only enough to cater to the basic needs of the family which is food and medication. I cannot invest in farming for lack of capital, even though one can access soft loans the interest rates are very high. Since the only river that we depend on for water flows through my farm, receiving this money would mean achievement of my farming goals. I am considering vegetable farming( Tomatoes and kales) because it earns high profits. I plan on purchasing six rolls of water pipes at a cost of $ 200 which I will use to practice drip irrigation and $ 300 for fencing. I project on earning $300 monthly from it. I am extremely happy with the transfers from Givedirectly because it will make me live a dignified life like everyone else."
Musa's family
access_time over 1 year ago
Musa received a $451 second payment.
"I currently have a goal that I want to complete by the end of the first quarter of the following year 2023. At my house, I want to fix a water tap. This is due to the high cost of purchasing water for home usage. However, I intend to start horticulture cultivation, which needs water for irrigation. Only if I have access to tap water at home will this be possible. Since veggies are hard to come by in our area due to the protracted drought, horticultural farming will be a source of income."
Victor's family
access_time over 1 year ago
Victor enrolled.
"I have a lot of challenges to face in my life. I was charged with looking after my grandfather's property and livestock after he passed away. However, given the prolonged draughts and lack of water for irrigation, this has not been simple. Since I finished my automotive engineering studies two years ago and haven't been able to find work since then, I am totally dependent on the farm for all of my basic necessities. The lack of rains though, has led to low productivity and lack of cash which is a challenge for me."
Catherine's family
access_time over 1 year ago
Catherine received a $451 second payment.
"Vegetable farming is the plan that is now being carried out. I've already made progress on repairing a water tap in the garden, but there are still other tasks to complete. Because rain has abandoned us in our location, I am trying to fix the water faucet so I may utilize it for irrigation. I thought that growing vegetables would be the best way to support my family because of the money I would gain from the sales. Since people travel long distances in quest of vegetables, I am positive about this."
Selphine's family
access_time over 1 year ago
Selphine enrolled.
"As a family, we depend of farming for a living. However, climate change has awfully implicated the economic activities in the area since the seasonal river Waseges have dried up over the past 2 years therefore hindering irrigation on the farms. We gave up farming to concentrate on charcoal burning because the losses we incurred were heart wrecking.For now, my family of 3 use stagnant water for the household , which sadly, is a predisposing factor to diseases. The profit we earn from the charcoal business all caters for the food for the household and we can not afford to purchase a 20litre jerrican of water at $1 from the Loboi centre."
Priscilla's family
access_time over 1 year ago
Priscilla enrolled.
"I have a passion for farming, but this has been hard to do because of the seasonal rains. I want to plant vegetables and make a living out of them. Since I can not depend on rainfall, I will tap water from my neighbors and buy a tank worth $ 150 so I can practice irrigation. The excitement I have for this project is immense because unlike how others go to Lango Baya to buy vegetables for commercial purposes, I will be planting mine in my backyard and selling them."
Joseph's family
access_time over 1 year ago
Joseph enrolled.
"I have been visiting different doctors to consult widely about my problem and so I have received a lot of recommendations that I want to work with. Most of them are in favor of medical operation which should cost $300 for the whole process. When I get this money, this is going to be my first project! I know I stand to regain my old life I go down this route. Once done, I will invest the rest of my money on commercial farming through irrigation using the river water that I have at my disposal. This way, I'll be able to create a stream of income for myself."
Prisilah's family
access_time over 1 year ago
Prisilah enrolled.
"Food security still remains my biggest challenge. I'm a house wife mostly dependent on my husband, but I also involve myself with subsistence farming to some extent alongside keeping chicken and goats. Recently, I also got a job as untrained ECD teacher in a nearby school earning around $50 monthly. This isn't paying so regularly and from that I still have to pay school fees for my niece who's living with me at $10 per academic term. I decided to take her in because I do not have children of my own. My husband on the other hand is a small time professional farmer who does horticulture and maize production through irrigation at River Galana. But I must say it hasn't been a wonderful time for farmers for quite some time. This is because he still has to hire and fuel a generator for watering crops. Whenever he's broke this fails and that translates into low yield which we have experienced for most of this year."
Daisy's family
access_time over 1 year ago
Daisy enrolled.
"My family of 7 depends on vegetable and maize farming for a living. However, we rely on leasing land for farming as we do not have our own near the irrigation scheme. Sadly, we struggle to get the KES 10000 for leasing since we do not have any assets to sell to earn income. Therefore, we count ourselves poor because for one to be considered well off here, owning livestock and land is a measure."
irrigation