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
55000 KES ($477 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My new goal is to fence my kitchen garden. It is not fenced and I have a plan to plant vegetables in it. I want to do so so that I can restrain the chickens and the cows from going to the farm and destroying crops. My vegetables will thus be protected and I can earn some income from selling them.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly did well because they were not biased in enrolling people in the community. Every person who is a usual member of the village was enrolled and given the transfers. They hence managed to change the lives of many for the better and I do not see anything wrong with how they conducted their work.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 23000 of my recent transfer on buying a heifer. I bought it so that it can help me in the future when it calves. I will be able to sell some of the milk and get income for meeting my needs. I had a cow before but I had to sell it when I was sick so that I could raise enough money for paying for my hospital bull. I also spent another KES 20000 on buying a water tank. I didn't have access to clean water and hence I decided to buy the water tank so that I could collect clean rainwater. I am also old and I am no longer able to go to the river which is very far to fetch water. I hence usually depend on my daughter-in-laws to fetch water for me. I am glad that it has rained and I now have water for my household use. With the remaining transfer amount, I used it on buying food and a wire mesh for fencing my compound. Thank you so much GiveDirectly for your help.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($485 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was still asleep in my hospital bed when my phone rang that morning. Because I don't know how to read I gave it to my son who confirmed that I had received the GiveDirectly transfers and I was very elated. I send him to withdraw and immediately we used the money to foot my hospital bill.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is gratitude for the gift of life.This is because through the GiveDirectly transfers I am now out of hospital after being admitted for three months due to a big sore in my mouth.Though the bill is yet to be completed I am grateful because I can now walk, talk and eat a few liquid foods.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent most of my transfer on settlement of a part of my hospital bill because I had been admitted for three months and the bill was humongous.The rest was spent on daily food and rent bills.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am an old woman aged 76 and to make the situation worse I am sick and unable to do anything. My main challenge is to get safe drinking water because of the persistent drought that is often witnessed in this region. I plan to buy a big water tank of approximately 3000litres. This will cost me Ksh20000. Receiving this money will mean so much to me as it will solve my perennial water problem.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I am always happy in the evening when I am all alone in the house. This is so because it is at this time that I read the bible chapter after chapter. I love doing this because it is the only source of hope that is available to me.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
In February 2020, I was diagnosed with Oral Cavity Cancer, something that brought nightmares to my life. I have been to several hospitals and the situation does not seem to get any better. I have spent more than Ksh 150000 in treatment and my body is getting weak every passing day. I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow but not even a shilling is in my pocket as we talk. It only God who can get me out of this scary condition.
