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.
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2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($474 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My new goal is to be able to accumulate enough money and buy a piece of land soon enough. I have always had the desire to do this and once I get enough money I will be able to have one .
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly did well by giving us money without conditions on how to spend the money. We are so much grateful for the support and we are looking forward to investing the money the more to reap maximum benefits from it.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used KES 50000 to build a new house and used the remaining amount of money to buy food for the family. For a long time I had the desire to build a better house but with the casual work that I engaged in I could not accumulate enough to feed the family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($485 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was at the farm weeding my maize plantation when I heard my phone vibrating. I did not bother checking it since I was busy and decided to do it at a later time. When I heard the passersby claiming to have received their transfers from GiveDirectly, I decided to read the message that I had just received. I became so happy on seeing the good news reflected in my account and this gave me the strength to work hard and I ended up weeding a larger portion on that day.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have been able to clear this term's school fees for my son. This has been my major problem since I depend on working for other people and the pay is always not attractive. Due to this, my son was always in and out of school and I had gotten so worried since I knew that it would negatively impact his performance. Also, the dairy cow that I bought is an investment that I will rely on in paying for his school fees on time since I will be using money from the sale of milk to achieve this.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received my transfer, I spent KES 25000 to purchase a dairy Cow as an investment that I will rely on in paying school fees for my son through the sale of milk. In addition, I spent KES 10000 to pay school fees for my son who had been sent back home, KES 10000 to buy 15 pieces of iron sheets that I am planning to use in building a more decent house, and KES 9000 on foodstuffs and other household necessities. I currently live in a grass thatched house where I have to change the roof every year and it is also small and we have no privacy as a family.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money will mean a lot to me. I live alone since my children have married and I also lost my wife a year ago to cancer. I normally buy and sell cows at Chebunyo market but now that I am old, I want to buy a dairy cow with KES 35000 of the transfer so that I can switch and venture fully in selling milk. I also want to build an iron-roofed house with KES 30000 because the one that I live in leaks and is too old.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning when I get up, go about my busines. Talking to my also colleagues help me ease my thoughts and memories of my late wife.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship that I have faced in life is financial constraints. I was a farmer before our land was divided amongst us meaning that my source of income was cut and so I had to look for an alternative way to take care of my family. I also had a lot of financial challenges in treating my wife who had cancer.
