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 ($468 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 have a burning desire to open a mini mart for my wife. Once able to raise Kes. 35, 000, I'll be able to set it up for her. This will serve as a good source of extra income for our family of three, with the inclusion of our 3 year old.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The go out of their way to ensure that you feed that your own needs are valid and allow you to plan for the funds yourself, which makes one feel like they are in control of their destiny.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I took the opportunity to finish my 3 bedroom house and get a cow that cost me Kes. 17, 000. The funds allowed me to be able to complete these goals that I had be struggling to.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($489 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was very happy to receive a message from GiveDirectly that confirmed the receipt of KES 55000 that I was promised some weeks before. It was on a Thursday morning while I was renovating a dam that had silted and filled by mud with the help of my two brothers. I was the only one who had received it that morning since everyone within the village had received it in the previous month while mine was paused due to name mismatches. I was glad that the errors were rectified as I was promised and received the total amount that morning.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the improved farming activities after receiving the first transfer. Both livestock and subsistence farming improved a great deal when I obtained certified seeds, tilled my piece of land, planted, and also obtained a heifer that is a potential breed to produce enough milk in the future. I am grateful to GiveDirectly and hope that the second transfer will bring much more difference to our household.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Even though I had been getting a liter of milk from my parents every morning that is enough for my family of three, It has been my wish to get a cow that would provide my household with enough milk for the use and surplus to sell and support the extended family when they don't have enough. With the first transfer, I dedicated KES27000 to obtaining a heifer that I am hopeful will be our pride in the next few months. I also purchased a sack of maize at KES4000, equipped my new house with bedding at KES10000 that includes a sizeable bed, a high-density mattress, and a duvet that has brightened our bedroom. I spent the remaining amount on improving my farm operation by hiring machinery to till our half an acre piece of land, purchased seedlings, and other farm inputs.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Recieving this money means a better life for me and my family, we leave in a very small house with my family that we inherited from my elder brother, I have always wanted to build a spacious house but due to the little finance I get from my casual job in a construction company, we have never managed to do any progress as a family.
I plan to use KES.70000 for house construction and use the remaining to buy 2 cows that will give us milk for consumption and sell the remaining to the local market.
I have been struggling with my family since what I do is looking for house constructions jobs and what I get is too little that we cannot do any development in our home,it only caters for food and clothing for us.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I am happy in the evening before I sleep, and this is the time I can speak to my family whom I love to stay around and have fun with them.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I used to depend on farming, and mainly crops like maize and beans, but recently we have been affected by change of climate hence not harvesting anything at the end of the year. I then started moving out from my home to look for any opportunity in order to feed my family, this is so straineous to me and my family are living misserable and lonely life, I am happy that Givedirectly have visited my household and that I will get the transfer to develop and stay close to the family.
