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 ($467 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?
At the moment I have a new goal of starting a poultry project, I am optimistic that I will be able to realise the dream, this is because I have already constructed a poultry house, the next step left is for me to bring in the chicks.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly has lifted the economic status of our village, people changed their houses from grass-thatched to iron sheets houses, our lives were lifted amazingly thus we are grateful for the support that empowered our people.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Fetching water from the stream can be tiresome, Upon receiving my transfer, I purchased a water tank to relieve my wife from going to the stream several trips daily, I was unable to purchase one before due to so many responsibilities especially paying the school fees for my children, thus I saw this as the perfect opportunity where I used KES 5000, I then used KES 10,000 in constructing a poultry house, in addition to that I paid back a debt of KES 15,000, and lastly, I used the remaining amount on medication, and in buying furniture, I am grateful for the support that changed my life positively.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($491 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was at my place of work where I am casually employed as a groundsman. As I was going about my duty of trimming the flowers, I heard my phone ringing in my pocket notifying me of an incoming SMS. I stopped to check it and I could not believe what I was seeing. I was so much happy to learn that I had received the lump sum transfer that GiveDirectly had promised that I could not continue with what I was doing. I headed back home because I was so eager to tell my family the good news. My wife was so happy when I informed her what had transpired and we celebrated together saying how the transfer is going to transform our lives.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference that the transfer has brought into my life and that of my family is that having completed building the house, we now have a comfortable place to stay free from cold. We were also able to buy some furniture and our guests now have something to sit on whenever they come visiting. Thank you so much GiveDirectly for the blessing.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent the better part of the transfer completing building the house that I live in. I had not finished placing the windows and there was no furniture in it. I had always wanted to complete building the house but I was not able to due to financial constraints. The little money that I make from my job is not enough to do any developments as such. Most of it usually goes to the purchase of food and payment of school fees for my children.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means that I will intensify my farming activities. I live on a small land that is too small to keep cows. I have been wishing to start keeping poultry. Struggling to provide for my family , is only, through casual jobs of tending to flowers in various institutions, mainly schools. My wages ranges from KES 700 to KES 1000 per day but for less than 10 days in a month. It is insufficient to feed my family and extremely unreliable. Poultry keeping would be a better source of income through egg production. I will spend about KES 30,000 to establish it. I will then spend the remaining amount on home improvement,to complete the house currently undergoing construction and to furnish it.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning. This is when I get most of my landscaping jobs. This is thr time when I visit various schools, resulting in job offers. Sometimes, I supply the potted flowers to various clients within this time. I am always excited during the morning hours because of these opportunities that I get to fend for my family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Finding enough food for my family has been the biggest hardship in my life. Working casual jobs in different schools is quite unreliable as it is not available all the days of the month. I spend part of the wages on school fees for my child in a college, leaving another amount for foodstuffs. All the time, it is not enough for food in the household. I wish to get a constant daily income through selling eggs. I will therefore build a poultry house and buy about 30 chickens and stock their feeds.
