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 ($528 USD)
access_time almost 5 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 it would have been if I never received this transfer in that my household income has doubled. Nowadays we are able to share financial responsibilities unlike before when my spouse was the breadwinner. He had to cater to all the house expenses with the meager income which he got from doing manual jobs in the village. I feel honored to have graduated from a housewife to an aspired business woman.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly did so well when they gave the poor money which had no conditionson its spending . Personally, the money has empowered me so much from a house wife to a business lady its a big achievement which I am proud of .
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent my second transfer to buy a solar lamp 14,000 KES . I restocked my small business which is my biggest achievement since I have a source of income unlike before when I would rely on my husband for everything. I also bought food with the remaining amount .
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($538 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
Having cows has really changed my life. I settled in buying them for various reasons. First, my children are still young, none has started going to school yet. I am hoping by the time they attain the age of schooling the cows will have multiplied. I will have started doing other businesses as a result of their products. First, I will be getting plenty of milk from the two dairy cows and I am planning to supply them to our local market and save the money for my children's future studies. Secondly, with the pair of oxen, they will help me in ploughing my farm and this means the level of food production shall also increase compared to when I used to till my fam by myself. I will also hire them for my neighbors at a fee which will earn me more money that will help me in settling my family needs. I will also have a means of taking care of emergencies without taking loans.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 9 am. I had just charged my phone. It had been off for three days due to low power. I later switched it on after charging it. That is when I saw a notification message. I decided to read what the message was all about, only to realize it was an mesa message from GD. I had been sent my first transfer. I couldn't believe my eyes. I was so excited and I remember canceling all the plans for that day so that I could celebrate. I thank Give Directly for making my day that morning.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent part of my first transfer on buying dairy cows and a pair of oxen. I settled in buying them because they are normally considered to the greatest assets one can ever have. They are highly valued in our community because they have numerous benefits. In addition to that, I also bought a big solar panel. Previously I was using candles which were expensive and sometimes I used to stay in the dark since I could not afford to buy them. Nowadays I have enough lighting at night. Apart from that, I also started a business of selling foodstuffs which are now doing well. I spent the remaining amount of money to buy enough foodstuffs for my family.
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Having a stable source of income has been my greatest desire. For over many years now, I have depended on casual jobs that are hard to come by to sustain the family. My husband, on the other hand, is a water vendor in Mombasa, and he uses a hand-drawn cart to ferry water around the city. It a strenuous job and in most cases he is unable to meet our needs. Therefore, we intend to use a huge part of our transfers in starting a kiosk business. This will be our constant source income. Apart from that, we will invest in goat rearing. It is a viable practice in our region since it is not labor-intensive. This will serve as a long-term investment plan. And that is what receiving this money means to me.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Happiest part of my day is in the evening. Usually, my day is filled with a lot of activities from taking care of children, to fending for them. I normally wake up as early as 5 am to prepare them for school before embarking on the daily chores. Ensuring that I get food for the day is the hardest part of it and I always look forward to the evening so that a can have adequate rest.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of adequate finances has been the biggest hardship in life. At the moment, we depend on daily wages something that is not sustaining at all. As a casual laborer, meeting the needs of the family has been a real struggle. We sometimes sleep hungry, a situation that is so devastating and not fit for the children's growth. My biggest worry at the moment is how to get education fee for them. We have no investment under our name. However, I am glad the situation is going to be better once we receive our transfer. We intend to invest in an income-generating activity that will see us be in a position to sufficiently provide for the family and save a portion for future use.
