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.
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($492 USD)
access_time over 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 different than how it would have been if I never received the transfers in that I have build a better and spacious house. I used to live in a small mud house. I was always exposed to dust particles which might caused respiratory related diseases. I depend on small scale farming and the harvest that I get is only for consumption. I didn't had money to buy building materials. Currently I have a spacious house and I no longer being exposed to dust. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has changed my living standard. I had always wished to own a better house were it not GiveDirectly this could have been not possible.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly does well by giving money to the poor in the community to build better houses and to buy dairy cows. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spend part of the money I received from GiveDirectly on completing the construction of a house that I started using the first transfer. I used to live in a small mud house and I decided to
Upgrade .The rest of the I used it to buy food and clothes. I am so grateful because GiveDirectly has changed my living standard.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($494 USD)
access_time almost 4 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was a few minutes to 7am when I heard a message notification on my phone. I called my grand daughter who wanted to go to school to come check out the message for me, and when she told me it was from GiveDirectly, I jumped out of bed with a lot of joy.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I am old and no longer able to smear a house with cow dung like I used to before, so I decided to build a house with an iron roof, a cemented floor and a wooden wall. This will be easier for me to clean and it has always been my dream to have a beautiful house at old age.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am building a house since the one I had was old, small and grass thatched. I also bought 2 bags of maize, clothes for my household members and a sofa set.
Enrolled
access_time 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Goat and sheep farming is a lucrative project in this region that I have always wanted to venture in. They multiply over a short period of time and are less laborious compared to cattle hence engaging in such project is a store of wealth. I will therefore invest invest $600 of my transfer on 15 sheep and 10 goats, then spend $300 to build a more spacious two roomed iron roofed house to accomodate my visitors who usually spend their nights at a neighbour's house whenever they come around visiting.
What is the happiest part of your day?
With the high blood pressure and arthritis conditions I suffer from, I usually have sleepless nights that makes me restless. My pains usually subsides in the morning which is the happiest part of my day since it is at this time that I take my breakfast and get back to bed to get some peaceful sleep.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I have been ailing from High blood pressure and knee arthritis for the last 4 years, a condition that require alot of money to manage, in terms of eating nutritious foods such as milk, green vegetables and fruits. Medicines prescribed by my doctor are also costly yet I depend on my son who operates motorcycle taxi to fend for his family as well as mine. This is the most challenging phrase of my life.
