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 ($468 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
check
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Having received the transfer, I utilised it to extend my house, built a new kitchen. This was quite a progression for myself and my family, seeing as I had been trying to do the same for a while. My sights are now set at buying a cow, which goes for roughly Kes. 30, 000, which would allow me to better cater for my expenses such as the school fees of Kes. 450 per term for my child who is in PP2 at Kamenwo Primary School, which would be made by selling milk at Kes. 45 per litre. As a security guard in Nairobi, funds are always scarce, so a second source of income would be very welcome.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly excel in understanding the challenges that Kenyans are facing, and more importantly having the foresight to give us the chance to make out own choices on how to utilise the funds. The fact that they allow us to make judgement calls on what is most pressing to us is phenomenal. The also have wonderful customer service, helpful and polite CCAs and most importantly, are an organisation of integrity, as shown by them keeping their word and sending funds on time. I would be the last to say GiveDirectly has any faults, so I'll keep my peace and just continue to say thank you.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The transfer allowed me to continue expanding my current home. Thanks to GiveDirectly's timely generosity I was able to build a modern kitchen, attached to my existing home. With the remainder of the funds from GiveDirectly, I was able to add some furniture for the house as well as buy maize for the family as well. Clothes and other basic needs were also allocated a few shillings where possible. The funds not only were able to tide us over the pandemic, but they were also fundamental in allowing us as a family to make moves to better position our family, in the long term.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($493 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was early morning and I was cleaning utensils when I heard my phone beep. I became curious and on checking it, I saw the message notification that I had received KES 55,000. I couldn't believe how lucky I am to receive this cash transfer.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I still get overwhelmed with joy when I look at my new, spacious house. Until a few weeks ago, we lived in a tiny, grass-thatched house. We had no sense of privacy, but could not afford to change our living conditions because I am unemployed. Thankfully, this transfer has changed this. We have built a modern, one-bedroom house that meets our family's needs. Life is so much better now.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My family lived in a small, grass-thatched house, until a few weeks ago. We wished that we could build a more modern and spacious house, but I am unemployed and therefore could not afford to do so. So I was happy to spend KES 50,000 on construction material and labour costs for our new home. I also spent KES 6,000 to buy a bed since we didn't have any, and KES 2,000 on clothes to replace the old, tattered ones.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
We are currently living in a single grass-thatched house, you can see it has a leaking roof which makes our life difficult when it rains. We were donated this house by our brother-in-law since we could not afford to build one with my husband, this is because am still a Secondary school student and my husband relies on a casual job to earn a living and provide for us. This money allows me to buy a 0.1-acre piece of land at KES 40000 and Construct our own house with KES 30000. I will then buy a cow with the remaining KES 30000 to enable us to earn some income through the sale of milk which in turn improves our lives.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Morning is my happiest part of the day, this is the time I am planning for my daily chore. Happiness comes since I know that I am healthy and I have some duties to deliberate.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My biggest hardship that is going through is a lack of finance. I am still a student and I rely fully on my husband to provide for us. This has made us even unable to build a decent house live. I am even ashamed of this house that we live in since it is old and donated.
