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 ($517 USD)
access_time 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I never anticipated that I would get a bed and a mattress to sleep on. Through the money, I managed to replace my bedding with a new bed and a mattress which I am sleeping on comfortably. I also have some two heifers that I am currently keeping in my homestead. These are my assets which I can readily depend on in case of a financial need.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, I have not heard any complains concerning this program. GiveDirectly does well in the whole process of choosing and enrolling the needy households and giving us the transfer to help us. I don't see anything that GiveDirectly does not do well.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent a larger portion of the transfer on buying two heifers which I am currently keeping in my homestead. I also paid for school fees for my children for them to be allowed in school. In addition to these, I also bought a mattress and spent the remaining amount to buy foodstuffs and paying for other household basic needs.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($544 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
Owning the livestock that I acquired through the financial support from GiveDirectly makes it be the biggest difference in my daily life since I owned nothing at first that I could call an asset. I am happy that I now have assets to depend on in case of any financial crisis.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I saw the notification early in the morning as I went through the messages in my phone inbox. On checking the content, I realised that it was from GiveDirectly informing me that my first transfer had finally been sent. I was happy and thankful to GiveDirectly for financial support.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent part of the transfer on buying a bull and a heifer that previously I had none though keeping livestock has been my desire for a long time. This is because these animals form the greatest assets that one can have in our village. I will add another bull so as to make a pair to improve on my farming because I always hire from neighbours during the planting season which is costly with a bigger acreage. Having my own pair will relieve me the cost of hiring. The heifer will reproduce and increase in number thus adding to my cowshed. I also replaced the old beddings that I had been using because they were worn out. I purchased a new bed and a mattress to sleep on. In addition to all these, I paid school fees for my children in high school in order for them to be allowed to continue comfortably with their studies.
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am a widow who takes care of three orphans. With my old age, I have to work hard to provide all their basic needs without support from anyone else. The most pressing need is school fees which I cannot comfortably afford with my casual job of weaving ropes. I desire to give them a better future through education so that they can explore job opportunities in the corporate world. Once they are employed, they will live a descent life and also take care of me. Therefore, receiving this transfer means purchasing livestock that I will rear in oder to finance their education up to their desired level.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Since the death of my child I am a very depressed person. As I go around doing casual jobs, I feel very hopeless and burdened because I know there is no one to help me out. I can say most of my day times are lonely and full of stress but I get relieved in the evening when I am taking supper with my grandchildren. I therefore regard evening as the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My child who was the sole breadwinner succumbed to a mysterious illness in September 2018. During his entire period of ailment we spent all the finances to pay his medical bill. I even sold my four goats to support him and after his death our financial stability reduced to zero. Since then, I have not recovered from the situation and I am facing a big problem providing basic needs for the children. The ropes that I weave earn me only 800 shillings a month, an amount that cannot even meet an eighth of our needs. In this regard, I can say lack of enough finances is my biggest hardship.
