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
55000 KES ($510 USD)
access_time over 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 different than it would have been if I had never received my transfer in that I am now comfortable with my husband after restoring our privacy. This is because I use to stay in the same house with my grown-up children. Through this transfer, I was able to construct a house for my boys. Also, I paid school fees for my children and they are now learning without any interference due to fees. something that has restored my happiness as a parent.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, I thank GiveDrectly for the aid which has transformed our lives. We received sufficient training before the transfer was send out to us. This has has helped us to plan on how to spend our transfer wisely. I was able to build house and paying school fees for my kids, I achieved this in a short time because of the GD transfer.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My wish had been to providing quality education for my children so they may have a better future, however, I am encountering a lot of financial challenges to fulfill my dream. Therefore, after getting my transfer, my priority was to clear the fees balance of $150. Also, I had a wish to open a water tap in my homestead since there is a water shortage after the dams dried off due the drought conditions in our area. Currently, we are dependent on tap water and I invested $150 on purchasing the materials needed for this project. Lastly, I bought solar and purchased food for my family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($493 USD)
access_time almost 4 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It early in the morning at 0600Hrs and I was at the farm with my son. I heard a message come into my phone and it was my son who checked for me the message. That is when he informed me that it was the Mpesa message for the transfers. I was very very happy and excited. I am so 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 was able to build my teenage children a house. They now have their own house which is spacious, and they no longer have to squeeze for space in the small house that we all lived in.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfers to buy food, to build a house for my teenage children and to buy a bed and a mattress. My family and I live in a small house which does not have enough space for our teenage children. We have been squeezing in the house. I sell groceries for a living, while my husband sells bottled water. We earn little pay which is never enough to meet for our needs. I spent the transfers to build my children a house so they can also live and sleep in a comfortable and spacious environment. They also used to sleep on mats as they had no mattress. I was very happy to buy them a mattress. The remaining amount of money I bought food for my family. I will forever be grateful to GiveDirectly.
Enrolled
access_time 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money will help me expand my grocery business. I will inject 100 USD to the business. This will increase my income which will help me pay school fees for my children. I will also buy 5 goats each at a cost of 30 USD. I also have school fees arrears that I am supposed to clear before schools reopen. This money will help me do that.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My business involves walking a lot since I start by selling groceries door to door before settling at my usual spot. By the end of the day I am usually tired. Evening comes as a relief for me since it is usually time to rest. This makes it the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Getting a stable source of income has been my biggest hardship. I sell groceries within the village and sometimes at a nearby shopping center. My spouse sells bottled water as a means of getting income. I have 7 children and their basic needs and school fees needs cannot be satisfied by the amount of money we get. On a good day I get 2 USD profit. This has made us struggle a lot financially.
