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 ($493 USD)
access_time almost 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 purchased a heifer. I always purchase milk daily and this is so costly for me. I depend on small scale farming and the harvest that we get is only for consumption. Sometimes I sell the surplus to meet other basic household needs including paying school fees for my children in various schools. When my heifer reproduce I will no longer buy milk, I will save the money to pay school fees for my children. GiveDirectly has given me an opportunity to own a dairy cow. My plans is to improve this in the next six months. I am so grateful for the support.
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 spent part of the money I received from GiveDirectly on purchasing a heifer. I also used some amount on medication for my daughter who Is mentally challenged, I sent some amount to my son who is in school. The rest of the money I started Poultry keeping project and purchased food and clothes for my children.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($494 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
There is poor network connection in my house and by the time I received the message, it was around 8am in the morning when I was taking breakfast and I jumped up and down with happiness. I then got ready to go and withdraw the cash since I feared for conmen and thieves who steal from unsuspecting MPESA customers.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The cow that I bought is about to calf and soon I will be milking my own cow to enjoy milk and sell the surplus and from there, I can be able to buy other household supplies like sugar, salt, fuel and cooking oil. My son's house had a leaking roof and whenever it rained, they had to go asking their friends for a place to sleep. Thanks to GiveDirectly transfers, they now have a good roof over their heads.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I bought a cow and built a house for my children since theirs was leaking. I also bought clothes for my children and bought 2 bags of maize for us to eat.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My desire has always been to have a cow. This will enable me to safe the cost of buying milk on daily basis. I spend a total amount of 80 shillings daily buying this precious commodity which is very costly for someone like me. If I am lucky to be enrolled in GiveDirectly program, I will buy a cow worth 30000 shillings. This will safe me the cost of buying milk on daily basis.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day has always been the morning hours. This is the time I thank God for allowing me see another day. So many people go to bed expecting to see another day but many are not lucky to. I thank God for keeping me on His wake up list each and every morning.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest challenge I have faced in my life is seeking treatment for my sick daughter. My daughter has not been feeling well for the past 3years now, and this has been something that has really been weighing me down. We have visited so many health facilities but no single hospital has ever given us a medical explanation of what is ailing my daughter, to a point that I am gradually loosing hope. I spend 800 shillings monthly buying her some tablets but her situation is not getting any better.
