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 ($493 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 so different from how it would have been because I currently have two dairy cows and goats which I am rearing in my compound. It has been my dream to have them since they have numerous benefits but because of my financial constraints, I couldn't afford them. In the few months to come, the livestock will multiply at a higher rate especially the goats. Through that, I will be able to achieve most of my goals like sending my children to school. Also, the bicycle that I purchased through the second transfer has and my life to be relatively smoother because I no longer complains about the regular headaches and back pains as a result of carrying the water in a long distance.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, this organisation has been conducting all its exercises fairly and freely starting from the Barraza to when I received my second transfer. Whatever they promised is what they delivered and everyone was pleased. Also, almost everyone in my village owns mobile phones which apart from using it sending money, we easily communicate with our loved ones unlike before.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my second transfer on buying six goats worthy of KES 23000. I settled in buying them becasue they reproduce twice a year, their offsprings matre faster and their pasture is readily available in my region. I also bought a bicycle at KES 7000, this will majorly save me from carrying water from the dam using my own hands. In addition, I paid school fees fr my children who were to sit for their last examinations and they are now waiting to join form one this year August. With the little that remained, I bought enough foodtufs such as some bags of maize, wheat flour, beans among others.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($502 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 transfer notification on my phone around 1 pm. I called for my helper who confirmed that I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I felt happy and thanked them helping me financially.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Owning livestock is the biggest difference in my daily life. Its been my desire to own them since they are assets that I can readily sell to meet my financial needs. I managed to buy a bull and a heifer which I am currently keeping in my homestead. I am expecting the heifer to reproduce and increase in number. I will be getting milk for my family's consumption and also sell the surplus. The bull will help me in ploughing my farm on time during the planting season.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent a larger portion of my first transfer on buying a bull and a heifer at KES 33000. I am currently keeping them since they are living assets that will greatly help me financially. As for the bull, I am hoping to use it to plough my farm during the planting season. As for the heifer, I am expecting it to reproduce and have many of them. I will sell the offspring to cater for my financial needs. I also spent the money on buying new school uniforms for my six children. I spent the remaining amount to buy some foodstuffs and other basic needs for my family.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
A decent education for my children has been my greatest desire and I have consistently struggled to ensure that, they are at school. With all my efforts, I am still worried about how I can manage to raise their school fees once they advance to secondary school since I have 3 who are in standard 8. My plan once I receive this money is to buy 10 goats for 3000 shillings each. These will reproduce fast and by the time they join secondary school, I will be sure of sorting them. Also, I will buy oxen that will help me upscale my farming to have food security in my household. For the second transfer, it will help my husband to start a livestock business to earn extra income for the family; sustaining basic needs like school fees. This will change our livelihood for the better, a transformation that I have wished for a long time.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I spend the better part of my day doing my charcoal work at the bush. This means my day is so tiresome and evening finds me when I am fully exhausted. Although I feel tired in the evening, I still find it being my happiest part of the day because it is at this time when I get relaxed and eat a lot. This restores the energy that I lost during the day and it makes me re-energized for the next day's work.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Food insecurity in my household is the biggest hardship that I have ever faced in my life. This has been contributed to the fact that I use traditional methods of farming like hoe during land preparation. This is time-consuming and in most cases, my produce is very low that takes me only 4 months before I start buying from the shop. Since there is no stable source of income, we sometimes skip our meals or opt to borrow from my relatives which in some cases, I find it weird.
