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
53010 KES ($394 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My objective this year is to look for a better way of approaching farming either by changing to another crop that does not need much water intake or keeping doing vegetable farming and relocating to an area I can carry out irrigation.
After identifying a better plan, I hope to be able to at least generate a respectable income to cater to our basic necessities,
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
One thing Give Directly does well, and we are very impressed with, is that we have experienced equality and fairness throughout the process, from the census though receiving all transfers to the final follow-up process.
Regardless of age, financial status, or even the language each person speaks we have all been serve with dignity and respect.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I was overjoyed to get my second transfer from Give Directly because I had plans for it and couldn't wait to put them into action.
As a young vegetable farmer with no other source of income, it has been extremely difficult for my family and me to provide basic needs for our family owing to the present devastating drought, which has left us with nothing to rely on.
So, with my second transfer, I decided to finish the three-roomed house I started with my first transfer so that we could at least get comfortable in a reasonably homely place, and with the remaining $130, I chose to buy adequate food and household essentials, this way, we will be relieved and comfortable enough to plan and discover a better manner of generating revenue for the family if we have adequate food and other home basics, such as clothes, for roughly three months.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($443 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
Every day at 4 pm, I take my milk to the milk collection centre. During the process, my sister-in-law approached me and informed me that she had received money from GiveDirectly. I thought she was just pulling my leg. I turned around to see if I had received the same message. When I confirmed, I discovered that I had received money from GiveDirectly. This was the best news ever. I was overjoyed and thankful. I then called my husband and broke the news to him; he, too, was grateful and excited to hear the news. We will be eternally grateful for the help that has greatly improved my life.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
GiveDirectly's support has amazingly elevated my life to a higher level. This is because I was able to build a kitchen in a short amount of time. Due to financial constraints, none of this would have been possible. I am no longer concerned about the leaking roof. My family and I are grateful for the help that has significantly improved our lives.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a farmer, and my husband does odd jobs to supplement our income. We are fortunate to have two children. I prioritized building a kitchen after receiving my transfer because the one I had was grass thatched and small, and the roof was leaking. As a result, I spent $400 to construct a kitchen house. Due to financial constraints, this was previously not possible. I then spent the rest of the money on groceries. I am pleased that, unlike in the past, I was able to construct a house in a relatively short period.
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
I would like first to construct a decent modern house with a metal roof and buy a 5000-liter water tank to collect rainwater for our daily use. The water that we are currently using is from a nearby water pan and is not safe for drinking though we usually risk and that might have health risks later in life. To supplement our income we would like to purchase a dairy cow which approximately will be giving us 5 liters of milk every morning and this can earn us at least $2.50. We are so determined about our plan and we will do everything that it takes to see that we actualize this which shall improve our lives.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My children this year have had uninterrupted learning in school and am so happy about that. Last year it was so challenging to pay their school fees and their studies were affected because they were being sent home almost every week to collect school fees.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
We are facing a major challenge with our housing conditions. We are a family of 4 and our house has a grass-thatched roof and walls made of mud. It has been 2 years since the roof started to leak because the grass is too old and worn out. I work as a casual laborer in the neighborhood and my income is usually $1 a day on average and this goes to food for the household. The leaky roof lets rainwater into the mud wall and makes the mud fall off so often thus exposing us to cold conditions during the night. We are also experiencing a challenge with water for household use. We would have collected rainwater if we had a metallic roof but sadly I haven't been able to construct one.
