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 ($518 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 was previously living in a grass thatched house. However, my life is currently different because its through this transfer that enabled me to build a decent and iron roofed house. It would have taken years to achieve, thanks to GiveDirectly for making it possible for me to access better shelter.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly has done well in uplifting our lives from where we were before. Some of us were living in houses that were in a pitiable conditions. We couldn't also take our children to school. However, we have been able to accomplish what we couldn't do due to our lowly financial statuses. I don't see anything that GiveDirectly doesn't do well.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent a larger portion of the transfer on buying building poles, iron sheets and nails in order to build a new house since the one I was sheltering in was in a bad condition. Its roof was dilapidated and nearly collapsing. It was even worse when it rained because it used to leak and I was forced to seek shelter from neighbours. I am grateful to GiveDirectly, since I now have a decent house to live in. I also paid the cost labour at KES 10000. I spent the amount that remained to buy more goats to my existing goat shed. I also bought a foodstuffs and clothing for my children.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($542 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The transfer has enabled me to provide daily food for my family unlike before when we could skip meals due to the financial hardships we were going through as a family. I depended on farming maize and due to unreliable rainfall in our area did not do well thus the harvest was just a handful and could not sustain us for long. I had to spend a lot daily on buying foodstuffs, which at times I failed to provide due to lack of money. But ever since GiveDirectly gave us the transfer, providing daily food for my family has never been a problem, which makes it be the biggest difference in my daily life.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was informed by a neighbour early in the morning that money had been sent to us, and because I could not read and comprehend the messages on my phone, I curiously called my helper who confirmed to me that indeed money had been sent into my Mpesa account. I was overwhelmed with joy and rejoiced with my children for the fortune.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent KES 15000 of the transfer on buying six goats to save as my own living assets. I had desired to own these goats because they are the most important assets that one can have in our poverty-stricken region. Once they reproduce and increase in number, I will be able to sell and earn extra cash through them to assist me with future financial needs. In addition to this, I bought building materials which include iron sheets and building poles to construct a new house, for the one I was living in previously was in bad condition. It was on the verge of collapsing, and it would leak when it rains since it was grass thatched. I am in the process of constructing the new spacious house, for the materials are enough for a two bedroomed house. Apart from this, I paid for school fees for my children so as for them to be allowed back to school and also meeting other household expenses.
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My husband and I never went to school but we have the aim of investing in education for our children. This aim has never been achieved because, we are unlearned couple with no reliable source of income to fully support our children in school. My husband's job is to make and sell local rope beds and in addition, he sells sisal ropes. The income from these jobs are not enough to sustain our family needs. This forced my daughter to join a tailoring college immediately after her Kenya certificate of Primary Education. Receiving this money will mean bringing our life to light. We will buy a sewing machine for our daughter and hire a room at Bandari center to start a tailoring shop. Part of the transfer will be used in livestock business and the income from these businesses will help us to pay school fee for our children. We also plan to use the remaining amount to construct an iron roofed house for our family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My usual job is to burn charcoal and also helping my husband in making ropes. These jobs are tedious and can only be done comfortably in the morning and afternoon hours. It is only in the evening when I get time to rest and share a meal with my family members. Therefore, I consider evening as the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Life in our village is very tough that educating a child post primary level is a big achievement. Despite having the desire to have my children educated, my first born never stepped in school due to the harsh life we are facing. The nature of my husband's jobs cannot sustain our needs. Lack of reliable source of income to support my children's education is the biggest hardship I have ever faced.
