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 ($485 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is now different because the transfers have enabled me built a shop within the shortest time possible which wouldn't be possible before. Without GiveDirectly, the idea of building would take a longer period than it has because my job wouldn't suffice.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly has improved my living standard by enabling build a modern shop within the shortest time possible.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfer as a top up for construction of a modern shop.This is because initially I had bought a plot of land but didn't have money for construction but GiveDirectly came in on time.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($494 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
My phone was off and I did not manage to see the M-pesa message at the time it was being sent. I had left it to charge overnight. My wife woke me up in the morning and she told me that she had heard people talking in the neighborhood saying that they have received the transfers from GiveDirectly. I immediately switched on my phone and I could not believe what I was seeing. It was an SMS saying that we had received the lump sum amount from GiveDirectly. My wife and I were very happy to see this because we knew we were going to get what we have always wanted.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
With this piece of land that we have bought, our lives are going to change for the better. Our cows will have enough space to graze. I also plan to till part of the land and plant some crops such as maize and grass for the cows. This way, my family will have food to eat and we will be able to get grass to feed the cows. The cows that we are taking care of, will also be of great benefit to us. We will be able to get milk that the family can consume and we can sell some. The money from the milk sales will enable us to invest in other things such as buying goats that we can rear.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The transfer has helped me in a great way. I sold two cows that I had and added to the money that I got from GiveDirectly and I bought a piece of land with it. I have always wanted to have a land of my own but due to financial constraints, I have not been in a position to do so. I wanted the piece of land because my cows do not have a place to graze and also because the population in our area has grown a lot. We usually tie them up on the small piece of land that we have for them to graze, and at times, we graze them along the road. With this piece of land, we will also be able to plant a few crops and grass for feeding the cows. We might even eventually settle there in the future. I wanted to sell the cows and buy the piece of land but I saw that the money was not going to be enough for me to buy the size of land that I wanted. It was only going to be enough to buy one point and yet I wanted four points so that it can be enough for me to till it and for the cows to graze. I appreciate GiveDirectly for enabling me to achieve my dreams.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means that my dream of buying an additional piece of land for farming will come to pass. Currently, we own and reside in 0.3 acres of land, which is relatively inadequate for us because I yearn to do some farming. I inherited the 0.3 acres of land from my parents. Hence, I will spend most of the transfer on purchasing another piece of land.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I always wake up at dawn and embark on my motorcycle taxi business that goes on throughout the day. Hence, the happiest part of my day is in the evening when I am returning home with some income that would be used by my family while saving some amounts for future uses. This makes me feel like a responsible and hardworking husband and father.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in life is losing my father when I needed him most. He passed on when I had just completed grade 12 of my studies. Since he was the sole person who could pay for my studies, I was forced to stop pursuing my dream course of becoming a plant operator. Accordingly, I am leading a relatively substandard lifestyle because I lack the necessary skills and knowledge that could secure me a well-paying job.
