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 ($525 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I own a shop in our locality and before I received my transfers, it was in a verge of collapsing. This is because I had spent most of the income from this business to meet our needs without bothering to restock. Gd removed me from the pit of poverty. My transfers enabled me to bring it back to its feet and I have now started earning some profits. This would not have been possible had I not received the transfers.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Gd did a perfect job since everyone in the village received the money. There was no any form of discrimination during the enrolment and they never allowed imposters.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent KES 15000 from my second transfer to buy some sheep for rearing as a way of adding my assets. I will be selling the offsprings and use the money to pay some of our bills and in case of any financial crisis. Also, I spent KES 30000 to expand my business by buying more stock. Due to this, my daily profits have increased since I now have most of the commodities that are always needed by most people. I used the remaining amount to buy food for my family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($529 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily is that I have built a decent spacious house for my family. We lived in a small house as a family and our comfort was slowly wearing out because of the size of our house. Even though, I operate a small business at the nearby shopping center, my profits were not enough to meet both basic needs to build a house. I had always wished to build a semi-permanent house for my family but couldn't out of scarce resources. Currently, my children have a good place to sleep and to do their private studies without any disturbances. I no longer shy away when I have visitors because I have a decent house and enough space to host them unlike before. I am so much grateful for the support from GiveDirectly because it has greatly changed my family living standards.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was taking my breakfast early that morning when I heard my neighbors celebrating. When I asked what was going on they informed me that GiveDirectly has sent the money. I quickly checked my phone and I had a new message confirming that GiveDirectly has sent me 55000KES. We felt so happy together with family. I had always wanted to build a better house but couldn't due to limited resources. I saw the financial support as an opportunity for me to build a house and this was my happiness.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent my first transfer to built a better and spacious house for my family because we used to loive in a small house before which could not host all my family members comfortably. I also bought five goats, food for the family and the rest of the money I added stock to my business on a posho mill.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
It is almost a common mantra that education is an equalizer, the only tool that brings at bar children of the the rich and those of the poor. I am an ardent proponent for children's education. Therefore receiving this money means an investment into my three children's education who're all in secondary school. I have already budgeted for an upfront payment of their fees till end of the year.
With the remaining amount I am going to improve my existing shop business by restocking it to capacity. Profits accrued from this business will become a reliable contributor to a savings and credit cooperation (SACCO) union in the community of which I am a member.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Farming and shopkeeping are my two sources of income. I spend most of my morning till afternoon cultivating maize in my farm. Early in the evening I would switch to running my shop business till late. Most of my friends would have finished their domestic chores by this time and would throng my business premise to interact. Since it's time to catch up on issues especially local politics, I always look forward to this moment. This is the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Both commercial and subsistence maize and dairy farming is the main source of income in my community. When an annual drought hits this area, it takes a toll on the yields thus impacting livelihoods negatively. Education of our children is immensely impeded due to a restraint source of income. Besides, children are faced with malnutrition due to starvation and it is often my worry that my children and grandchildren may not receive a healthy living.
