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.
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($467 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
check
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
After accomplishing my initial goals of constructing a decent and spacious shelter for my family because I was living in a very small and old one. In addition, I purchased crutches for my husband who was involved in a road accident which rendered him unable to walk. Furthermore, I was able to boost my shop business as well as my livestock rearing. Having achieved all these, I do not have new goals.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly did well in enrolling every household without leaving any household out. In addition, giving unconditional and non-refundable cash was the best idea GiveDirectly did. I feel that there is nothing it did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
For more than a year now I have been sleeping on the floor together with my kids. This was a miserable experience in my life, always feeling backache something that negatively affected my health. After receiving my transfer, I spent KES 10500 to purchase a modern bed and mattress. In addition, I completed the construction new my house with ample space since the one I had was very small to fully accommodate all our household properties. Furthermore, I was able to purchase the crutches for KES 15,000 for my spouse after he was involved in an accident that rendered him unable to walk. With the remaining amount, I boosted my small shop business by buying more stock. Currently, my husband is working at the shop since he can no longer do his motorbike taxi.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($491 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
As I was washing my family’s clothes at around 9am, I heard a message tone from my phone. Since my hands were full of foam I did bother to confirm what it was all about. But I felt something unusual in my heart, a drive to check on the message. I wiped the foam and picked my phone form the chair and confirmed what it was all about. I was amazed with the kind of message that my eyes were in contact at, without uttering a word I drew back and sat down. The happiness that filled my heart left my legs weak to support me because I hadn’t received such amount of money before.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Our living situation was pathetic before GiveDirectly came into our lives. We used to struggle for us to get some food and sometimes our struggle was bearing no fruits hence sleeping without hungry for some days. But since the day GiveDirectly graced our family with this amazing transfer, we have been getting food with no problems. We are now happily living.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Having a desire to own livestock one day, I wanted to buy a cow targeting milk but considering how dry our area is, I bought 7 goats for KES 21000.00. I only spent the money on the goats and reserved the rest for family use and any emergency that may occur. This is because we have scarcity of food and water hence the remaining amount will be catering for that.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means a stable source of income for my household because currently, I depend on charcoal burning, a job that is not reliable. I have desired to start a grocery shop at our nearby trading center where I can sell vegetables and fruits but due to lack of capital, this has remained an unfulfilled dream. I, therefore, intend to spend 15000 KES of my transfers to start this business. This will assure me of a daily profit since there is the availability of the market. On the other hand, I will spend a big portion of the transfers (40000 KES) to construct a decent iron sheets roofed house that is spacious enough to accommodate us. The remaining amount will help me to buy 5 goats that will act as my long-term investment project.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Considering the nature of my work which requires me to spend the better part of my day in the bush, the daytime is the hardest moment for me. It is only in the evening when I can get ample time to relax and share a meal with my family. Hence, evening becomes the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My husband got an accident early last year (2020), which resulted in the loss of his left leg. This has forced me to assume his role as the breadwinner for the family of 3. Considering my charcoal vending work which earns me approximately 1500 KES per week, it cannot fully cater to the needs of my family. Therefore, I consider the lack of a reliable source of income as the biggest hardship that I have ever faced in my life.
