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 ($485 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Before enrollment, I had no cow to call my own but I now own two cows and three goats. With this, I am optimistic that I will be able to see my children through school since I will be using the money derived from selling milk to people to pay their fees for them in time. With this, I am optimistic of a bright future for my family and I thank GiveDirectly for making this come true.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly does well by giving helping the poor people in the society by paying school fees for their children and building better houses through the cash transfer. I do not see anything that they do not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
On receiving my transfer, I spent KES 41000 to purchase two heifers and two goats as a way of investing this money. We have been depending on working on people's farms in order to earn money to use in meeting our daily needs. On a day, my spouse and I would earn about KES 300 to 400 a day. Also, I spent KES 5000 to pay school fees for my so as to avoid her being sent back home due to huge fee areas. Using the remaining, KES 6500, I bought one sack of maize and other household necessities for my family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($511 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
Confirmation of the receipt of the transfer was a great joy to me. The long wait I had after getting enrolled was so big as I had plans in mind that I knew will only come to be on receiving the transfer. I had a little bit of tension before receiving since I have witnessed people missing in the nearby villages and it has been my prayer that mine would come just in time. This triggered my happiness when I realized that I had finally received it and was up to make good use of it.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the great joy of seeing the healthy trip of goats grazing on my fields. This alongside the small retail business I started after receiving the transfer has given me a new hope in life. I believe it is the reason behind my current rejuvenated energy over my daily chores.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I received the first transfer after completion of the construction of a small shop on my piece of land on the roadside. This came in handy since I needed to start a new business. I used the first part of the money on obtaining the stock which was roughly 3000KES. I made this decision since I needed a sustainable source of income. With the remaining amount, I obtained enough foodstuff for my household and invested all the remaining on the four goats' purchase. This is meant to build on the assets which are set to serve as the main source of school fees for my three kids in the future.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
This aid from GiveDirectly could not have come at a better time.I was in the process of gathering materials to build a small shop. Since I live close to a road which serves about 4 villages,and the nearest center is about 1 kilometer away, I see this as a viable means of earning an income.I was however going to build it but would not have had any money to stock it with.Receiving this money means that my intended project will be complete and running within a short time.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My day starts with preparing breakfast and getting my two young children ready for school.After doing this,I proceed to look for casual jobs around the village.On most occasions,I come by weeding or ploughing jobs which although tiresome,are my only available option. I stop working at around 1 pm where I rush back home to prepare lunch for my children.In the afternoon,I take some time to rest under the shade with my children and those of my relatives.Taking this time of rest makes me very happy since it is a break from the tiresome job that I engage in everyday.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My spouse and I bought a piece of land in a neighbouring village about five years ago.We had hoped to establish our family there since the family land here is quite small and congested.Little did we know of the bad eventualities that would follow that.Once we had built and settled in it,there came very heavy rains that caused flooding and destruction of our household items.We then had to move back home and reconstruct houses.This cost us money which we would have used to meet other needs.Since then,we have never fully recovered from that especially because that piece of land is not viable for farming hence it cannot generate any other income.We have since had to depend on casual jobs to provide for the family needs.
