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
53150 KES ($493 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
check
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is different than how it would have been if I never received the transfers in that I have bought a solar panels. This has eased my work at home during the night. I used to buy paraffin everyday and it's so costly for me. I depend on small scale farming and the harvest that we get is only for consumption. I do not have a continuous source of income. I also do casual jobs in the village. My children can now study and do their assignment on time unlike before where they could miss to complete there studies due to no money to buy the parafine. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has enabled us to live a better life.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly does well by giving money to the poor in the community to build better houses.I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of the second transfer purchasing a Solar panel. This is for lighting up the house. I also bought clothes,sky blast and food for the family. The rest of the money I paid school fees for my children in various schools. I am so grateful for the support because GiveDirectly has changed our living standard.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($500 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
That beautiful afternoon, I had left my phone charging inside the house. It's when I was sure my phone was fully charged when I went for it. When I switched my phone at around 3pm, Lo and behold, there was GiveDirectly transfers I had eagerly waited for until I lost hope. I was overwhelmed with joy and the financial stress I had immediately left.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is relieve from doing casual labors and lot's of peace in my life and my family. This is because I have bought adequate food for my family through the transfers but before I had to do casual labor in order to feed my family. My house is also well furnished with modern sofa set seaters which I couldn't afford before. I am also grateful because the transfers enabled my son to enroll for the course of his choice.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 10,000 on school fees for my son because he depends totally on me and had desired to enroll for a course in the past one year but I couldn't afford because I am a single mom. I also spent KES 6000 on two sacks of maize because my maize stock was depleted and maize crop hasn't been doing well in our place in the recent years. I also spent KES 10,000 on latest clothing fashion because we had no more clothing and we relied majorly on second hand clothes. I also spent KES 2000 on maize farming because I normally rely on casual labor to get farm inputs. I also spent KES 500 on school stationery and KES 11,000 on modern furniture because I only had some old arm chairs which were uncomfortable especially when visitors.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means alot to my family. I had started building a semi permanet house but due to lack of source I have not completed. We have been praying to God to atleast open a way for us to get money to complete it. The one we have now is not specious for my family of six, has leaking roof and it acts as both kitchen and bed room. Mostly my children are not comfortable especially when they are studying. Incase I get this transfers I will purchase doors and windows that was still remaining and use the remaining amount to pay school fees and buy basic needs.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Usually when I wake up in the morning healthy I go looking for firewood to sell in the near by market. This work is so tiresome but I have no otherwise since this is my source of income. My happiest part of the day is usually in the evening when I come home to rest and also having been able to provide food for my family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship in my life is lack of stable income. When my husband died, life became very difficult for me because he was the one providing for the family. That time we had one child in secondary level and three others in primary level. Besides school fees food also was a problem to get. Since I had no otherwise rather to agree that now my husband is no more and all the responsibilities was on my shoulder. I start looking for casual jobs, Atleast per I could get 200 shillings. This has not been enough for both school and basic needs.
