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 ($435 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?
I am planning to buy some goats, and a cow, in order to get milk, sell and feed my family. It has been hard to put food on food on the table, but I hope for the best.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Thank you so much GiveDirectly for your support. Indeed, I do not have anything to complain about. I lacked a piece of land and now I am a land owner courtesy of GiveDirectly. At least now I own a piece of land.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent kes. 290000 in buying two hectares of land, from the two months transfers I received, I managed to spend kes. 11000 in buying a piece of land for my family. I am a father of two, a boy who is 13 years old and in class four and a daughter 9 years old and in class 3. I am a farmer. I do maize and vegetables and also do beans farming. My wife is also a farmer. Before receiving these transfers life was hard and I had a goal of buying my own piece of land since I had not enough land. We are many in my father’s home and only own a small piece of land
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($465 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 very happy when I first received the first transfer from GiveDirectly. This news came to me very early in the morning, right after waking up. Out of the total amount, I had to withdraw part of it and transferred the rest to my family back home since my children needed to pay their school fees.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the enormous investment in school fees that made my children comfortable in school. Previously, they were facing a lot of challenges going home and back because of the lack of school fees. I am happy that they can now get ample time to study without any disturbance.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 40000 of my first transfer on sorting household requirements and school fees for my children back at home. I had to make a direct mobile money transfer after receiving before withdrawing the remaining from the nearby shopping center. My family was happy and thankful for the support they received from GiveDirectly. I also bought five goats at KES 6000 that I am hoping to grow, breed, and later sell their offspring to support other projects with the proceeds. I spent part of the remaining on my foodstuff and also construction materials since I am currently planning to put up a better house.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
All I want is a decent house, spacious, one with a finished floor if not cemented, a proper door, chairs, and a bed. I get irritated by the rats that come into my house, the environment I live in is bushy and the door to my house is worn out, which makes it easy for the rats to enter and make a mess. I need about 30,000 KES to put up a two-bedroom house. I will also invest in furniture (chairs) so that when I get guests I can at least offer them a place to sit. I only have two small stools that act as sits.
My other interest is in livestock farming, I want to at least own a cow and a goat for domestic use.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Drought has made my life sad and unpleasant. It is difficult to recollect any happy moment. I get satisfaction from life when I have food to feed myself, it gives me the morale to look forward to another day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Access to water is a challenge, it takes an hour to go to the stream to fetch water which I lack the strength. I have resulted in buying water which costs me 240 KES weekly. This is costly since I am only but a carpenter and I only earn whenever I have sold a stool. I live from hand to mouth.
