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 ($432 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I have been saving the little wage that I earn from working in farms in a local sacco. Since I have been saving for quite a while. I am looking forward to spend the saving towards buying a dairy cow which will make me a proud owner of three dairy cows. Achieving this means that I will start supplying milk to the local hotels in the neighbourhood and thus earn some good income to take care of my family.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Through the cash transfers, people have been able to achieve financial independence through starting businesses and farming. Therefore what GiveDirectly does well is giving us cash and living us to make choices on spending.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Both my husband and I are peasant farmers and we have never been privileged to own a dairy cow. Buying milk daily for family consumption and especially for our child at $5 per day has not been an easy task for we do not ave a reliable source of income. Being enrolled in the program was a great opportunity for us to buy a dairy cow and at least own a domestic animal. I spend $40 to buy two dairy calves and spend the balance to buy two sheep. My husband and I are grateful for the financial aid that saw us achieve one of our greatest desires and we cant thank you enough as we look forward to start selling milk in the near future.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($471 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was 8 am and I was at home cleaning the utensils when suddenly I heard my phone ringing notifying me of a new message. I stopped to check what it was all about since I had the phone with me. I was so surprised when I found out that I had received KES 55000 from GiveDirectly as they had promised. I was so happy when I saw this and I immediately told my husband about it since he was still at home. He was so happy too and we thanked God for it. I called my neighbor since I was still confused and excited and I asked her if she had too received the transfer. She happily confirmed that she had received it.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The transfer has brought a big difference in our lives as a family. We managed to buy oxen that are going to help us in preparing our land for planting. We will hence no longer incur the costs of hiring a tractor to do so. We will also be able to plant on time just like some of our neighbors.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
We spent most of our recent transfer on buying two oxen. We bought them at a total cost of KES 53000. We decided to buy them so that they could help in tilling our land in preparation for planting. During the planting season, we at times lack money to hire a tractor to come to plow for us our land and hence we end up planting late. My husband and I do not have stable sources of income. We depend on casual jobs of farming to earn a living. The money that we get paid, we usually use most of it in paying for merry-go-round group contributions. The lump-sum amount that we receive from the group when it is our turn to receive it usually helps us in buying food, that is, maize in large quantity. We can buy a bag that can sustain us for a while. We also usually use some in buying clothes for our child. With the remaining transfer amount, we spent it on buying deworming medicine for the oxen and salt for their consumption. We are thus grateful to GiveDirectly for the support.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am two years old in my marriage. My husband and I were not lucky to go beyond the primary level of education. I primarily depend on casual jobs to earn a living. Due to the rising economy, our daily wages of KES 200 are not even enough to take care of our primary daily needs. I currently live in an old, grass-thatched, single-room house. Even though it is in a poor condition, I am happy I have somewhere to call home. This cash to me means a decent and comfy home for us. I am planning to spend KES 40000 to construct a two-room iron-roofed house. This will be a big achievement to me since I have never had hopes before that I would build it. Thank you GiveDirectly for the support.
What is the happiest part of your day?
It was my happiness getting married since I wanted to bring up my family. I always looked forward to having the company of my children in my home. It's now five months ago since I was blessed with a baby. This has been my greatest source of joy in life. I now have a company of a young one who gives me hope and encouragement to work hard to make him happy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
We live a hand-to-mouth household. We do not have formal jobs and we only have a quarter of an acre piece of land. Low-paying casual is what is left for us to earn a living. We hardly do farming due to unfavorable weather conditions and the small we do are only for consumption. Financial instability is my main challenge give that we do not have a stable source of income.
