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 ($469 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I am planning to a buy a dairy cow because currently I don't have one.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly does well because through the transfers my family's living standards has improved.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent most of my second transfer on completion of my house and furnishing my house with sofasets. This is because initially, I had a tiny house which couldn't accommodate my family. I also spent the rest on food and a donkey to aid in water transport.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($494 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
Even though I was a little bit shocked on the first instance when I read through the message I had received that morning, I got excited as soon as I confirmed that it was indeed a message from GiveDirectly. I had my phone at hand at that moment, and the pop-up found me staring right on the screen. With all the plans I had in mind, the receipt of the transfer was a confirmation that my family of six will soon enjoy the comfort of a new house as that was topping the priority list.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the completion of a new house that is spacious enough for my family of six. Even though we have not moved in at the moment, I am certain that before the end of the month, we would have shifted most of the luggage that we currently have heaped at one corner of our old house, to the new one and later, we will be moving in once the interior furnishing and the fixing of doors and windows will be complete.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I had been living in a small house that served both as a kitchen and a living room for my family of six. With such a growing family, we were soon running short of space as all the four kids needed enough space to complete their assignments every evening after school. On receiving this first transfer, I spent KES35000 on obtaining all the construction materials and paid the labor cost on the construction of a new house. I am glad that it is in the final stages at the moment. I also paid KES8000 for my two secondary school children and KES900 tuition fees for my primary school kids and spend the remaining KES10000 on obtaining new school uniforms and other clothing for my four children. I am grateful for the great support from GiveDirectly that has enabled us to accomplish a lot that would have taken us a long time before completing.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I currently lived under one roof with my children where we cook and spend our nights in. It is uncomfortable for the six of us to be in this small house more so spending the night together with my grown-up children. To be receiving this money means, I will be able to build a spacious and decent house since I am going to use 400USSD to build one. I am sure we will have a good place for my children to live in different from ours and also have a spacious and decent sitting room that can host my visitors comfortably whenever I have some. I currently have children in secondary and primary school and since I wish to give them ample time to study, I will use 100USSD to clear their school fees. This will enable them to study with no interruptions hence focus on good grades. To invest my cash transfer, I will use 350USSD to buy a cow to add to my cattle. This is an added asset that will improve our milk production this increases our sales and also will have offspring that I will rely on for any arising financial need in my family. I am planning to spend 150USSD on my household daily food, clothing, and items.
What is the happiest part of your day?
As a mother, spending time with my family is always my happiness and with my current cereal business and subsistence farming, I hardly spend my day time at home. The happiest part of my day is in the evening when I am home with some food for my family where we will all enjoy together as we bond before we retire to bed to rest.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I depend on a cereal business within nearby markets to provide for my family and educate my children. When the coronavirus pandemic hit us, we were forced to stop going to the market and this cut off our main source of income thus living us with the few family assets to depend on. To me, the Coronavirus pandemic is the biggest hardship I have faced in my life.
