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 ($520 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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The recipient was not asked any questions as part of this follow up.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($549 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I now own a bigger and iron-roofed house courtesy of the transfers from Give Directly. Earlier on I used to live in a small grass thatched house with a leaking roof. This house was really small that It could not accommodate my large family really well; I have 8 children and at night we could not all fit well when sleeping. Am glad I used part of the transfers to buy building materials which I used to construct the new house I have now. I feel at peace because we night is now better, warmer and space is enough for all of us.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was busy tilling my farm at around 10.00 am when I heard my neighbours ululating. When I inquired what the cause of the joy, I was informed that they had received the transfers. I immediately left the farm to go check whether I had also received the transfers since I had left my phone at home. Upon checking the phone, the transfers were not in yet but then I joined my neighbours in celebration. Within no time, a message popped up notifying that I had received the transfers. I was so excited and in joy, I sang a song praising God for the miracle. The whole village went frenzy as most of my neighbours joined us in a celebration.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent KES 30,000 of the transfers on a building a two-room mud-walled house. I then bought two bags of maize at KES 4800. My husband used KES 10,000 to expand his cobbler business. I also clothed my family with KES 3000 and the remaining went towards meeting my family's daily expenditure.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My struggle to feed my family using products from my farm has been so hard. The constant drought and land poor productivity has made my life very hard. I no longer get much from crop farming. Receiving this money will enable me to change to livestock keeping. I will abandon the labourious and not profitable maize farming. I will buy a dairy cow that will produce milk as a source of income. It will also be a source of food for my children. This transfer will buy me a cow and enable me to farm fodder and grasses instead of the traditional maize farming which has not been helpful.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the afternoon when I have completed my daily chores. I usually stay in my compound and relax after the days hardwork.I always labour in the farm and getting time to rest is always a good time.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship that I have faced is lack of enough food. It is very difficult for me to get food because I rely on farming as the only source of income. Low and unpredictable rainfall patterns renders me a poor person as my crop fails in every season. I am now living on hand to mouth basis, always working to get only food. I have never had enough for myself and the family and this has made my life a never ceasing struggle.
