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
55000 KES ($509 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 it would have been if I never received the transfer in that I was able to own and start livestock keeping an activity that I had been dreaming of starting. Furthermore, I was able to purchase a bicycle which is assisting me in fetching water. Earlier, I was using my head and I had to walk for a distance of 4 kilometers to carry 20ltrs of water on my head which is very tiresome.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly did well in enrolling every eligible households in the village. In addition, the cash transfer was non refundable something that has never happened in the past. In my opinion, everything went well during the enrollment processes and even follow-up stages.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The cash transfer come in a perfect time when I needed it most. This is because had just give birth to my firstborn child with some stomach complications. I spent $200 to pay the hospital medical expenses. I was forced to seek assistance in a private hospital since the country had a national doctor's strike in the public hospitals. I also spent $ 50 to do a small shopping for the newborn baby. In addition, I spent $80 to purchase two goats a future investment for my baby which will help me in educating her when she grow up. The remaining amount assisted me taking care of our daily basic needs like food and water.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($502 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was one pm when I heard a message come into my phone on checking it was the mpesa message, I was very happy
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Cow, building a house
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
1 cow, bicycle for fetching water as I begin building a new house, the rest I saved for building as I Wait for the next transfers. I have no child , I bought a cow for reproduction and profit, my husband is a construction worker
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money will help me add two more goats to the herd I have. I like goat keeping because they multiply very fast and this will help me educate my children when they start school. Each goat will cost me 30 USD. I will also use 500 USD to renovate my house. The walls and floor are in a bad condition.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning. This is before I embark on my farm activities. Farming activities are very tiresome since I use a lot of energy and spend a lot of time in the scorching sun.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I mainly depend on my husband who is a casual labourer so as to get food and other basic needs. I have tried farming but it is not doing well in this region due to lack of rains. Depending on casual jobs is a challenge by itself. Sometimes my husband does not get any job to do meaning that I will not have food to eat. I have slept hungry on several occasions especially during this time of the corona virus pandemic. This is the biggest hardship I have faced in my life.
