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 ($526 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I have lived to support my family heavily relying on farming. I do not have formal employment thus I have taken farming as the backbone of my family economy. When I received my second transfer I took KES3000 to buy a sheep. With the many needs that I had to cater for in the family, injecting this little amount to my source of incoming makes me happy. I preferred this since I already had another herd thus bringing in one to add will not require much capital. I am happy since I am certain this will in the future reproduce thus sell the offsprings to meet other family needs and invest more in other incoming generating activities.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, I love the fact that GiveDirectly made their transfer unconditionally. I have spent the money in the best way I felt and am happy that it has made my immediate needs. I urge GiveDirectly to maintain their firmness on the unconditionality.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I took KES40000 from my second transfer to build a new kitchen house. I had an old Maddy house that needed most of my time to smear regularly especially during reason. I was tired of this and the fact that I had built another new house with my first transfer, my old kitchen gave my home a bad picture. I am happy that I currently have a beautiful homestead. Being a farmer, I spent KES 3000 to buy a sheep. It was my happiness adding this to my herd since I am sure that it will help us in the future to meet our family needs especially my children's school fees through the sales of its offsprings. The remaining amount spent om my household items and daily basic needs. It was my happiness adding new items in the household and meeting my daily needs with ease courtesy of GiveDirectly.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($539 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have finished constructing the new house that I had started using my own savings but due to financial constraints, it had stopped for a while. I depend on the small scale farming to earn an income to meet basic needs for the family and even pay school fees for my children. I did not have any extra money to complete the construction process. When I received the first transfer from GiveDirectly I felt so happy because this was the only opportunity to continue with the construction. I used part of the money to buy materials and complete the building. My house look so decent. I have moved to the new house with my family and we live so happily. Whenever I have visitors I do not shy away to welcome them because I have enough space to host them unlike before. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has changed our standard of living.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I received my money I felt so happy. I remember it was very in the morning when I heard a message from my phone. When I checked it I could not believe my eyes, it was a message confirming that I have received a sum of 55000 KES from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy because I knew I will continue with the building process of my new house which had stopped for a while due to financial constraints.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent my first transfer to complete building the house that I had started before the transfer. I had no extra money and the building process had to stop for a while but when I received the first transfer I decided to continue with the building process and the rest of the money I used it to buy goat, food and clothes for my family members.
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
For a long time I've had a desire to complete construction of our main house. My husband is a casual employed as tractor driver and the dues he gets is not enough to save for it's completion. Therefore receiving this money is an opportunity to furnish my house with better seats, tile the floor and seal its ceiling. All this activity will consume about 30,000 KES of my first transfer. I am also planning to purchase a dairy cow worth 30,000 KES to provide my family with a source of income as well as milk for improved nutrition to my children. This is a huge difference made by GiveDirectly.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My husband oftenly goes out for work, leaving me to undertake the domestic chores especially looking after the cattle from morning till afternoon. Early in the evening at around 3:00 pm some of my children will arrive from school. A once silent and deserted homestead would soon be filled with cheers, laughter and lots of catching up with my little ones about their day in school. This is usually the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
As a tractor driver, my husband gets paid at the end of every day that he works. Work is not constantly available, especially during dry seasons when people do not cultivate their farms. His salary alone is not enough to meet the ever mushrooming needs in our family of six. Therefore it is safe to say we are living from hand to mouth with nothing left to save for economic investment nor children's education. Although we are still enjoying the benefits of free primary education, my biggest worry is an imminent transition of our children to secondary school. I am foreseeing a tough financial situation in the coming years.
