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
53150 KES ($440 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
At the moment, my major concern is to see my children through school. I plan to achieve this goal through farming and saving money from its sales. But, most substantially, I am grateful for the aid that boosted my finances greatly.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly has financially empowered our community greatly. It empowered everyone equally, regardless of their socio-economic status. I have never experienced any inefficiencies.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Building a decent house for my family has been my major goal, though this had not been possible because of financial constraints. When GiveDirectly promised us unconditional transfer, it brought hope to our lives because upon receiving my initial transfer; I built a spacious house. Though it was incomplete because I ran out of cash because of the high cost of building materials. Therefore, I used $350 for my second transfer on the completion of the house. Additionally, I used $200 on paying school fees for my child who had joined high school. My husband and I are consistent farmers and together we are blessed with three children. Receiving money from GiveDirectly has been of great aid, thus we are forever grateful.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($467 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 very excited when I first received the message from GiveDirectly that confirmed the receipt of the transfer. I was attending a function with other neighbors who were also excited about receiving it. We could not hold our happiness after receiving and everyone was up and ready to move out of the function as they wished to share the news with their families. I had to call and inform my husband, who was back home, and his excitement was very clear on the phone. I could not withdraw the money on the same day, but I headed straight home after the function.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the ease of paying school fees and equipping my daughter who was starting her secondary studies. It would have been hard to meet all the school's timelines and requirements since she got a wonderful school that needed a lot to be bought. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for giving us this support that made it easier.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My daughter had just received an admission letter to a secondary school that she had applied for after her examinations. It was a grand school that everyone envied, even though the fee structure had a lot to be paid for. It was a relief for me since the transfer came right in time that I needed most and had to make full payment of her tuition worth KES 17000 and other purchases that included a school box, two pairs of school uniforms, a mattress, and other personal requirements that summed up to KES 20000. I am happy that we sold nothing out to make this possible, but the transfer we receive was sufficient. I also spent the remaining amount on boosting the construction process of a house that was on when I received the transfer. Initially, the house was made of mud on the walls but had to renovate it with timber, bought metallic window frames and panes, and also cement for the floors. We are now living in a better house that is easy to clean and warm after filing all the openings on the walls.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Life in the Village without a formal job is so difficult without a good source of income. I am a farmer practicing mixed farming within a 1.5-acre piece of land. Crops have not been well enough to rely on thus livestock keeping has been better. I usually spend what I earn from milk to support my daily household needs and children's education. I always prioritize their education to n to enable them have better living standards in the coming days. I have my daughter who sat for her Kenya Certificate of Primary School Examination and she is ready to join secondary school. I am planning to use an amount of KES 20000 from my transfer to start her secondary school. This is my biggest ambition with this cash transfer.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I have invested my hopes and resources in farming having no other source of income. I wake every day with the ambition of making it better. Good farm produce means stable food and income to meet other family needs. In addition to my cow calving down in the last six months, I also harvested four bags of maize from my 0.3-acre piece of land. I have enough food and income from milk sales in these recent months.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Food shortage is the biggest challenge I am currently facing. Maize farming has been my main source of both income and food in my family. Since the broke out of maize disease ten years ago, I have not harvested enough yields to take us throughout the year. Milk production from my farm is seasonal thus we experience food shortages most of the days of the year.
