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 ($465 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Yes, my new goal is to renovate my house by putting up a new roof. This is because the roof of the house is corroded and the iron sheets are very rusty. Currently, It has started leaking during the rainy season. In addition, I am planning to purchase a sewing machine after I completed my tailoring college.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly did well in sending unconditional cash transfers directly to our phones. I had the freedom to decide how best to use my transfer. In addition, the officers enrolled every household into the program without discrimination. I do not see anything that it did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After dropping out of secondary school due to lack of financial support. I opted for early marriage at the age of 20 years, life has not been simple to me since I was unskilled. After receiving my transfer, I spent KES 25,000 to enroll myself into a tailoring college by clearing most of the required fees. I also bought I solar panels for KES 15,000 for lighting my house. Previously, I was using a small lamp which did not provide enough light at night. I used the remaining amount to purchase sufficient food for my family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($488 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I felt so happy and grateful the moment I received the money because it gave me the boost I needed to make progress in my life, especially, in completing the payment of the parcel of land I had initially bought although hadn't completed paying for it. I was so grateful.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Having these goats is the greatest difference in my daily life because it is not only an investment but also kind of a full-time occupation to me since I take them to my farm to graze, and I get to enjoy all the freedom as well as convenience that comes with owning land and livestock. There are no unnecessary disputes over grazing lands with my neighbors, which makes me so happy and proud.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent most of my transfer which was KES 30000 on completing payment for the parcel of land I had bought awhile back but hadn't completed paying for it. I did that because I needed a place that I will be carrying out agricultural activities, especially, farming without having to ask for permission since I used to borrow a piece of land from my neighbors during rainy season which was restrictive and inconveniencing. I so much desired the freedom that comes with owning my own parcel of land. I am so happy and grateful to GiveDirectly for making this dream come true. I also bought five goats at a total cost of KES 10000 because having my own farm means having a convenient grazing field for my goats, which makes me so proud and hopeful since they will grow with no restrictions and give me peace of mind knowing that in the future after they have multiplied and increased in numbers, I would be able to sell one or two and address the challenges that I will face.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means self employment and investment for me. For the past five years, my biggest ambition was to start a business of selling second hand clothes in my community. For the first transfer, I will use 20,000 shillings to buy second hands clothes and 5,000 Kenyan shillings to rent premises for the business. I will be reselling the clothes at profit. I will earning a profit of approximately 100 Kenyan shillings per piece of cloth sold. I will then combine the remaining money of the first transfer and the second transfer to buy 10 goats. The goats will be like an investment for me. My 4 children are still young, the eldest is 8 years old. By the time they will be ready for higher formal education, the goats will have multiplied. I will sell the goats and get money to pay school fees for my children.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening. As a housewife, I spend my whole day doing house chores. I wash the clothes of my family, I clean the compound and I also walk about a total of 6km to fetch water. All these activities drain my energy. In the evening, I get time to relax after the long and tiresome day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Unemployment is the biggest hardship I have ever faced in my life. My 4 children and I depend on my husband to provide for all the family's needs. Sometimes, this makes me feel ashamed, because I am very healthy, I am not handicapped, but due to the lack of employment, I cannot not even clear the smallest bills in our family.
