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 ($492 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is different than how it would have been had I not received the transfer. This is because I was able to build a more spacious iron roofed house for my family that can accommodate us comfortably. Also, I am glad that I will be able to harvest rain water for domestic use during the rainy season instead of going to the river.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly does well by giving out financial aid and I do not see anything that they do not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received my transfer, I spent KES 20,000 to purchase a dairy cow. I settled on this so that my income from dairy farming will increase when it starts to reproduce. Also, I spent around 10000 to buy three sets of chairs as we did not have any. I am now glad since my visitors will always have a place to sit on comfortably. I spent the remaining amount on food and clothing.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($501 USD)
access_time almost 4 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 2pm just after taking lunch when I heard a message alert in my phone.On checking my phone that's when I saw the GiveDirectly transfers and we celebrated the good news with my kids. I then went joyfully to the nearest MoMo agent for the money and I can attest that my last Christmas was great.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is happiness because I managed to build the house within a shorter time. I had desired to build a new house for the past two years but couldn't afford. Initially,we used to rely on maize and beans farming majorly for fees and food. The transfers have enabled me buy adequate food for my family and now my kids have grown healthier and happier.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 40,000 on a two roomed 24 Iron roofed semi permanent house. This is because the one I had, was grass thatched and served both as kitchen and bedroom. I also spent KES 5000 on latest clothing fashion for my kids because we could only afford second hand clothes before. I spent KES 8000 on two sacks of maize because maize crop didn't do well in the last harvest season.
Enrolled
access_time 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money mean an improved lifestyle. I have been living in this house for a long time but it is small; it can hardly accommodate a family of 7. My ambition therefore, has always been to build another better house and improve the life of my family. My intention is to use Ksh 30,000 to build a new house and this will bring a sigh of fulfillment as a parent.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My normal day entails working as a casual laborer in other people's farms from morning until late in the evening. The work that I am engaged in ranges from digging, weeding to working as a house help in the village. Going home with some money in the evening to buy food is an indication that my family won't go to bed empty stomach. This leaves evening the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Financial inadequacy has been the biggest hardship I have faced in life. Even though I have 0.5 acre of land where I normally grow maize for domestic use, what I get from it, is hardly enough to fend for my family. I normally harvest 4 bags of maize yet we solely depend on it for upkeep keeping in mind the hard economic situation that we are going through. This has forced me to look for an alternative source of income as a casual laborer within the village with a meagre wage of Ksh 100. Thank you Give Directly for the timely entry into this village which has brought a sigh of relieve.
