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 ($463 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Currently, I am a subsistence farmer and with this motivation, I look forward to starting a milk vendor business since it is more profitable. I am working towards starting this business which will allow me to cater for school fees for my children.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, Givedirectly did well by giving us unconditional cash transfer which has transformed most households in my village. All households have a new face. We are grateful that we were chosen to participate in this project.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon receipt of our second transfer, I purchased a dairy cow at KES 30,000. I had been buying a liter of milk at eighty shillings from a nearby town center which is very costly. We are so grateful that currently we have a dairy cow and we get a liter of milk per day we can use for consumption for my eight family members. I also used KES 6,600 in purchasing furniture for the new house I had constructed with my first transfer. With the remaining part of the transfer, I used in buying food for my family members.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($484 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
Receiving a confirmation message showing a receipt of the promised funds in my MPESA was one of the biggest moments. This was also an assurance of initiation of the goals that we had planned.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the construction of a new house that is spacious and decent.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
With the long to-do list, my priority was the construction of a new house. For the longest time, we had been living in a grass-thatched house. With Kshs.25,000 we used to initiate construction of the house. At the moment it's almost ready and we are soon moving in. With Kshs.10,000 we used to clear school fees arrears. I am happy that my children cannot be sent home at all. With the remaining amount, I used to buy school uniforms for my children and also used to buy food that will serve us for a couple of months before the next harvest.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
When I receive this money I will plan KES 40000 to build a two-room house made of iron sheets. This will enable us to have better housing, the house we are living in now is grass thatched which leaks when it rains. With the high demand for milk in our area, I will consider buying a cow with KES 30000 to enable me to tap more income through the sale of milk. This will be the remedy to the consistent financial challenges we are experiencing. It will also allow us to pay school fees without strain and relying on casual jobs. I will then use the remaining money to settle school fees arrears for my son studying in a secondary school. This will give me humble time to work and provide for my family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
With our little family income of about KES 5000 monthly, my son was able to study without being sent home to fetch school fee arrears. This made me happy as a parent considering that I do not have a stable job to support my family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Our area is no longer good in crops production, the area is normally dry and the sun is scorching. This is leaving us with nothing but to rely on expensive food from the market to feed the family. As a result of this, I struggle a lot to put food on the table with our little family income from casual jobs.
