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 ($431 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My long-term goal is to start a retail business, my friend started the business and so far the business has been giving her a profit. My other short-term goal is to open a milk business, ensure the cows are fed well, and get enough milk for commercial purposes.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly is a blessing and whenever they visit us in the village I get excited. I am happy someone somewhere does care for people like us struggling in life.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a stay-at-home mother, I depend on my husband. He owns a business selling second-hand clothes at the market. In a day he gets $2 as the profit and we spend it on food. I have seven children that I struggle to feed and take to school. Most days I am forced to go to school and talk to the official people to let my children continue with the school as I pay later on the agreed time. We stay in a one-roomed house that is small for the family and this transfer has enabled me to build a new house that is comfortable for the whole family, I spent $300 and used the remaining $240 to buy a cow that will provide milk for the family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($475 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was at home that early morning getting the breakfast ready for my family when I received a message alert that confirmed the receipt of the transfer after reading. In the house were my husband and our six children who were still in bed. I was very happy and had to share the news that ignited the celebration that early. It rejuvenated the hopes of starting again and making our family better. With the plans that we had set before, we had to crosscheck and listed the order in which we were going to handle them.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
After living in a small kitchen with my family of five for many years, I am glad that GiveDirectly allowed me to complete the construction of a house that I had been struggling with for a long time. At the moment, we have moved in and enjoying enough space with the clean tiled floors. This has been the biggest difference in my life that always put a smile on my face whenever I am cleaning.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The receipt of the first transfer came when we needed it the most. We had the construction of the main house that we had started a year ago and had to halt it at a point when we could not proceed due to the high cost of the construction materials. We kept doing in bits that would have been unfortunate for us to see some parts wearing out before the completion of the floors. All this time, I had been living with my family of five in a small kitchen that could not comfortably accommodate us. The transfers came in handy for the completion after the purchase of gravel, sand, tiles, and cement that gave a new look to the floors that had previously been attacked by fungus, and insects. I also cleared the labor charges to the workforce worth KES 6000. I am grateful for the generous support from GiveDirectly and looking forward to doing a lot with the second transfer that I am yet to receive.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means a better and more spacious house for my family of eight. The one we live in is very small hence there is a lack of privacy. we sleep in one room with my children. Three of my children are in secondary school and all the money I earn goes into paying for their school fees of KES 30,000 per year. I am happy because the transfers from GiveDirectly will see this dream come to pass. I plan on building a three-bedroom house worth KES 50,000 and paying for next academic year's fees for my children.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Consistent rainfall last month has brought me happiness. I planted kales and Spinach on my farm. The vegetables are doing so well and I am expecting a good harvest by the end of the month. The farm produce will earn me good money since they are not available at the moment, in the market.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I live in a semi-arid region and it barely rains. As a result, I have hardly had a good harvest for the last 3 years since my farm has become unproductive. I purchase food with the money I get from casual jobs and is not enough to get sufficient and nutritious food for my family. Each time my children come home they complain of taking one type of meal every day. As a parent, I feel the pain of not giving them a balanced diet. Food insecurity is the biggest challenge I face currently.
