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 ($519 USD)
access_time 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Many things have happened in my life since I started receiving the transfer from GiveDirectly which have really changed my life. The biggest difference so far is the joy of good sofa set seats which is a result of these transfers. I am now not worried when I have guests since I got comfortable seats where they can seat. Before I have worked hard to build a good house but there were no seats at all. I would borrow from neighbours I got some visitors. Now the shame is gone for good as I have my own. Again, I bought two heifers with the intention of rearing them. I believe with time they would have reproduced and I will have more cattle which I can sell to have money for supporting my children education.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, Give Directly came to our village and did an amazing work by giving us unconditional cash transfers.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
The second transfer which I received from GD, I spent part of it to buy two heifers for rearing. I invested in livestock since they appreciate with time. I hope in two years time I would have more offsprings which when I have a pressing financial need I would sell to cushion myself. The remaining portion, I invested in my children education.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($537 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
I was lucky to have built a decent house before GiveDirecctly came to our village. Though I had completed the most expensive part, making my house comfortable by fully furnishing was a task ahead of me since I had exhausted my resources. I had no otherwise but to just move in and wait as long as it could take to furnish the house. The biggest difference in my daily life is that my family now has enough seats courtesy of GiveDirectly. My house looks so nice and comfortable to stay in after using part of my transfer to buy seats. Being able to accomplish this within a short period always gladdens my heart. I am a stressfree person now that I can focus on other developments since I have a fully furnished my house that I call home.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I realized that I had unread messages that morning after waking up. I went ahead to check and my heart was filled with a lot of joy upon realizing that I had received KES 55000 from GiveDirectly. I knew I would finally be able to buy enough seats for my family that had been my long-term dream.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent part of my first transfer to buy a to buy three three-seater seats. I received my first transfer the moment I had just completed building a decent spacious house for my family and the seats that I had were few. I am glad that the cash transfer gave me a chance to buy seats that couldn't have happened much so fast. Also, I used some amount on farming by buying some maize seeds and on-farm preparation. I expect a good harvest now that I was able able to use hybrid seeds and planted on time. I also spent the remaining amount on my family's basic needs mainly food.
Enrolled
access_time over 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
It is an uphill task to afford a comfortable life when one has children in school with a huge demand for fees. My husband and I have stalled completion of our main house due to the same. Receiving this money means addressing the need to complete this house immediately upon receiving our first transfer.
I am also planning to spend our second transfer in expanding my part-time door to door clothes business on which I have been operating in the village.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Livestock is a major source of income in my family. After a day's hard work looking after my cows, it makes me happy milking them late in the afternoon because a good production translates to a bountiful income which caters for food to my family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
When drought face our region every year, we receive a below normal rainfall distribution and therefore water shortages will be aggravated by the drought.
When this happen, competition for water sources between humans and animals become rife. The aftermath becomes a plummeting supply of food for livestock thus a diminishing production, whose ripple effect include malnutrition and school drop outs due to lack of funds.
