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 ($465 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 build another house. I managed to buy the materials needed for the construction with part of the transfer money. I hence only need to look for some money for paying the labor costs. I would like to build another house because the one that I am living in it at the moment has grown old and is grass-thatched.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly did well by giving us cellphones during the enrollment. The people who did not have a cellphone and they didn't know how to operate it, have now learned how to go about with it. This has thus eased our communication. I hence do not anything that I would recommend them to change.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 37000 of the recent transfer money on buying a calf. I bought the calf to help me in the future when it calves. I will be able to get milk for our consumption and I can sell some to get income. I also bought two goats at KES 7000 per goat. I bought them so that they can be our source of milk when the cow is dry. With the remaining amount of money, we used some of it on buying food and clothes for ourselves. We also dug a borehole and bought water pipes. We would not have managed to do the above if it was not for the transfers from GiveDirectly. We usually depend on farming to earn a living where we usually grow crops such as tomatoes and onions and sell them. We also usually supply some of the milk to a milk cooling plant and we get paid at the end of the month. The money that we get from the sales is what we use in paying school fees for two of our children and buying food. We are hence so much thankful to GiveDirectly for their support because we now have food and milk for consumption.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($486 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was morning hours and I was at home. I had my phone which I always carry around with me. As I was going about with my usual duties, I heard it ringing. I stopped to check it but I could not understand what the SMS I had received was all about. This is because I am old and I do not know how to read. I hence went to my son's place who lives nearby and I asked him to check it for me. He told me that the transfer that we had always been eagerly waiting for had been sent. I was so happy on hearing the wonderful news and I thanked God for the blessing. I left to go prepare myself as I asked him to prepare himself as well so that we could go withdraw the money.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The transfer has brought a very big difference in my life. I was able to purchase a cow with the transfer money. This cow was going to be my source of income especially when it calves since I was going to supply most of the milk to the milk company. The money that I will earn from the sales is what is going to enable me to sustain myself and make other developments.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent most of my first transfer money on buying a cow. I bought the cow at KES 37000. I decided to buy the cow because that is what I had always desired to have for a long time but I didn't have the money to buy one before. I wanted the cow because it was going to be of great help to me since it was going to act as my source of income. I will be able to supply most of the milk to the milk company when the cow calves. The money that I will get from the supply of the milk is what is going to sustain me and also help me in making other developments.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Being an old coupled aged 70s ,we have lived in a traditional single house for our whole lifetime. Receiving this amount means a modern and better shelter for us.The societal lifestyle has changed because modern houses are mushrooming and for our case we have not afforded to be at bar with them .We feel embarrassed whenever visitors like you are around, this is because the house is smoky and sometimes soot falls into the cup of tea our guest is taking.Moreover, there is no privacy in this house because this is the bedroom, kitchen, sitting room and store .A person can see all the stuff within this household.These transfers will enable me get rid of this shame and get privacy because I shall build a big modern house of two rooms.I shall spend almost KES 50000 for materials and labour.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The weather conditions of this area ( presence of rains) in the past few months has made me happy.My herd of cattle has been able to do well in milk production.This has made us to be food secure and to earn incomes from the sale of surplus milk.We sell 5litres of milk a day and this earns me KES 175 a day.The amount received caters for our daily expenditures.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Shortage of food is the biggest challenge we are currently facing. My family has been unable to get enough food nor a balanced diet because of the lack of money. The main source of income in this household is the sales from the milk produced by the one dairy cow in the field.This is usually KES 175 a day , from this we spent KES 100 on two kilograms of maize flour daily and the remaining on other household needs. It is therefore difficult for us to get enough food as required because of the limited resources and the many needs of the family .
