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 ($468 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
No, I did not have any new goal since the main plan was to construct a new house. This is because previously I used to sleep at my relative's houses which were relatively far from the village that I live in. It has been stressing me for a while but I did not have any alternative.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly has been doing so well in that all our children are in school. Some never had the opportunity to go to school and this feels like a miracle to us in the village. Also, most of us now sleep in better houses that have replaced the traditional huts that we have owned. According to me, I do not see any see sector GiveDirectly failed us.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my second transfer on buying some building materials such as iron sheets at KES 12000, building poles at KES 7000, nails, timber at KES 2500, and the labor costs of KES 7000. I bought all these so that I could construct a new house for my children who have been sheltering at their friend's houses which were quite far from our compound. I later bought a water tank of 200litres at KES 2500. It's a relief for me because I can now harvest and store water. I will no longer be stressing myself in fetching from the dams. In addition, I bought new clothes, shoes, and enough foodstuffs for my children.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($494 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 9am when I was just relaxing at home when I hear the message tone from ringing twice. I called the helper who was not far to confirm what kind of a message it was. Upon checking is when he told me I had received some money in my phone. Curiously wanting to know more I probed him to tell me everything fearing that maybe they are con-men trying to steal from me. With a smiling face he told me that it was the promised transfer from GiveDirectly that had been sent. I was very much excited for receiving the money knowing that my problems have got a solution.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Raring goats was my biggest desire since I have been seeing people who took the goats business seriously prospering from it. I did not have even a single goat but since GiveDirectly came to my life I saw this as an opportunity to invest in the goats and try my level best on how this business will take me. Also in terms food, it was a miracle for my children to get 3 meals a day. Mostly it was a single meal in the evening before they go to sleep but as of now, they have an access to good breakfast, lunch and supper.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The first thing I thought of after receiving the money was to invest in livestock. I took KES 21000.00 and bought goats knowing that within no time they will multiply and I will sell them hence generating money for my family upkeep and for development purposes. I also paid some school fees for my children amounting to KES 10000.00. I did this because I know the biggest investment a parent can offer to their children is education. I also bought them some clothes and enough stock of food for the family. The remaining amount of money I decided to build a small house for my children.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means access to education for my children. I have a family of six children who are attending school in a local primary school in the village. Most of the time, they are sent home due to lack of school fees. Raising the school fees for all the six children has been difficult because I do not have a source of a stable income. I depend on charcoal burning business which is not reliable as there are no longer trees for this business. Besides, I get very little amount of money of about $3 a day. This is not enough to cater for food and pay school fees for my children. I intend to use the first cash transfer from GiveDirectly to pay the school fee balances for my six children which is close to $ 10. I will then use the remaining amount of money to buy eight goats to keep as an investment for my children education.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Evening is the happiest part of my day. This is because, at this time I had made sales of a few sacks of charcoal. Having gotten some profit, I have the opportunity to buy food for my family. Getting something to eat for my family brings joy to my heart as we eat and share stories together.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of a stable income is the biggest hardship I have ever faced in my life. I have a family of six children who need to eat, attend school and get clothes as well. This has really been difficult to achieve since the charcoal business which is not reliable earns me less than $3 a day. My husband is also old and cannot be able to work. All the responsibility of providing for the family is on me. This has made life more difficult as there are no jobs to do in the village.
