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 it would have been if I had never received my transfer in that, I am now owning two indigenous dairy cows. This will earn me income on daily basis from the selling of milk. Also, I have a safer source of light for my family acquiring solar panel. Furthermore, I have enough sits after purchasing 5 plastic chairs since my visitor use to sit on the floor.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly has done so well in sending me cash transfers which have improved my life. I don't see anything that it doesn't do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfer to purchase solar panel which I use to light my house and charging phones for my neighbor at a fee. Previously, we were using a paraffin lamp which was risky to my children due to its smoke, and sometimes it explodes and burn our clothes at night. In some instances, I was preferring to living without lights than use the paraffin lamp. Also, I bought one more indigenous dairy cow in order to increase my milk production hence more income. The remaining amount assisted me to purchase 5 plastic chairs and educated my kids.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($502 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was at home on that day and it was around 1300Hrs when I was cooking for my family. I heard a message come into my phone and on checking the message, it was the Mpesa message. I was very very happy and grateful.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I bought a dairy cow and I was also able to pay school fees for my children. My children will now stay in school without having to be sent home for school fees.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfers to purchase one dairy cow, to pay school fees for my children and to repair the door to my house. I have one child who is nine years old. I farm at my own farm for a living while my husband is a construction worker. We could have never raised the money to buy a cow and pay school fees at the same time. I am truly grateful to GiveDirectly.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money will help me finish up construction of my house. The house is doorless and the walls are not yet fine. This will cost me 50 USD. I also have a plan of buying an ox and two cows. The ox will help me till my land while the cows will be a source of milk for consumption as well as for sale. The livestock will cost me 500 USD. I will also use 80 USD to pay school fees for my son.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Morning is the happiest part of my day. Morning hours to me come with hope since the day is new. I spend the morning hours in my farm and the rest of the day doing house chores and cleaning around my compound. I enjoy working in my farm especially when there are rains. It gives me hope that I will get food in a few months to come.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My biggest hardship in life has been lack of enough income to satisfy the basic needs. This has been the case beginning from the family that I was brought up up to this point that I have my own family. My spouse is a casual labourer working in the construction industry. What he earns weekly is not enough to cater for the family needs such as food,clothes and proper shelter. My spouse works away while I am at home trying to make ends meet by farming. This region has low farm production and therefore I get no surplus to sell. The little I get is enough to feed us only for a few months.
