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 ($492 USD)
access_time almost 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 how it would have been had I not received the transfer. This is because I have been able to build a more spacious house for my family and also added a dairy cow to my livestock. I am now glad that I have the privacy I had always yearned for. In addition, I will be using the income from the sale of surplus to meet our daily needs.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my own opinion, GiveDirectly does well by giving people financial support and I do not see anything that they do not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received my transfer, I spent KES 12,000 to purchase a heifer. I decided on this so that I will be using the income from the sale of surplus to cater for my daily needs. In addition, I spent KES 8000 on farming. I used some amount in land preparation purposes and bought some hybrid seeds and fertilizers. Also, I spent around KES 12000 to buy five sets of seats. Using the remaining amount, I bought some clothes, food and other household items.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($497 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I received the transfers at around six in the morning and was overwhelmed with joy for the better part of the day till now. This is because I had never received such an amount before and was restless till the money was put in my hands by my helper who's also my son. Immediately the money was withdrawn I started purchasing Iron roofing sheets for my house which now in it's completion mode.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life is building a house which wouldn't be possible before.This is because I normally rely on casual labor which only yields money for food and our region is prone to long season drought. I have also started a poultry farm which will be a great source of income.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent 300 USD of my transfer on building a 24-Iron roofed on house because the one I had was tiny. 250 USD on a heifer as an investment to feed my family in future, 30 USD on a sack of maize, and 20 USD on starting of poultry project.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means that I will be able to take good care of myself for the remaining part of my years. At my age, I no longer have the energy I used to have back in the days. I intend to invest on light work like small scale poultry farming for 250USD so that I get proceeds from the sale of their products to keep me active. Additionally, I will construct a house and furnish it with good household stuff for comfortability. I will also buy one dairy cattle for 200USD to supplement me with milk and finally ensure I eat healthy.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Due to my age, I am no longer that active and I normally spend most of time knitting traditional calabash gourds which I sell to local customers. My happiest part of the day falls in the evening when I have quite a good number of these completed gourds to sell.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Provision of quality education to my kids was one of my key mission in life. I was blessed with 13 kids and out of these, 7 of them managed to finish tertiary level and another 2 are still schooling. Because of this, I had to exhaust all the avenues possible in order to cater for their school fees. I went to an extend of selling all my cattle to realize this. Now my farm is green with no cattle to graze on but I hope one day I will have one to graze here.
