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 ($517 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?
My life is different from how it would have been had I not received the transfer because I now live in a more permanent house. Due to this, I always clean it on a daily basis since it's less tedious. Also, the dairy cow I bought using the transfers is almost calving. I will be able to earn more income from the dairy farming when it calves hence I will be able to provide for our daily needs on time.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly did well by enrolling everyone in our village and I do not see anything that they did not do well.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent my second transfer to buy a dairy cow worth KES 25000 so that when it reproduces, I will be earning income through milk sales. Also, I spent some amount to make my house more presentable. I painted the roofs and fixed the ceiling. I spent the remaining amount to buy some clothes for myself.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($536 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have cemented the floor of my house. We used to live in a small house. The floor was so dusty. This was exposing us to respiratory diseases which is so costly to treat. I could smear the floor on monthly basis and during the dry season, it was very dusty. I depend on small scale farming to earn an income to meet other households' needs. I could not get extra money to save to enable me to cement the house though this was always my wish. When I received the money I felt it was the right time to cement the house. We live in a free dust house, we are no longer being exposed to respiratory-related diseases and I no longer look for soil to smear like before. I am so much grateful for the support it has changed my living standard.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I felt so happy the moment I received the money. I remember it was very early in the morning when I heard the message from my phone. When I checked it was a message from GiveDirectly confirming that I have received a sum of 55000 KES. I knew I would be able to cement my house to reduce the dust. My family was so happy too because we have never received such an amount of money before.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent my first transfer to buy food for the family and the rest of the money I used it to buy sand and cement to blaster my house. we used to live on a dusty floor which could expose us to respiratory diseases which is very expensive to treat.
Enrolled
access_time over 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Nothing compares to the joy of knowing that I am part of GiveDirectly's beneficiaries. A few years ago the demand for school fees for my grandchild's college education rendered my house construction incomplete. Receiving this money will go a long way in plastering the floor to my one bed roomed house with concrete, which has been my desire for a long time. In doing so I would have gotten rid of too much dust which has always posed as health hazard when sweeping it.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Two of my grandchildren reside with me a attend school from my house. While I toil during the day to look after my livestock, I am relieved in the evening when they arrive home to give me a hand with domestic chores like drawing water and cooking. This is the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Hundreds of people in my community live in arid and semi arid lands. We have been subjected to harsh economic backgrounds due to drought and thus lack of a source of income. Water is a scarce commodity which is hard to come by, especially clean and safe water for drinking.
It takes a lot of time and effort to get due to increasing competition for water sources between humans and animals, safe for less but drying up water pans which harbor infections due to stagnation -thus not fit for human consumption. I have never lived a life of dignity.
