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 ($442 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The only thing that gives me great joy is seeing my children going to school and I believe that their future is secured. The main thing I want to accomplish in life is to make sure my children are educated and prosper in life.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I'm really grateful for everything that GiveDirectly has done for me and my family. I have never seen an organization that gives you money and still talks to you in such a good way.They don't despise us but understand us and we really appreciate all the work that you've done of changing lives. You've made a very big impact in not only my life but also all my neighbors who are benefiting from this organization. Thank you so much GiveDirectly for everything, I only know of the great things you do but I have never witnessed any wrong you've done.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
We sat down and planned everything with my beloved wife before even receiving our transfers. The moment we did receive our transfers, we made sure all our plans were implemented. Since we had used the first transfer in a way that had completely changed our lives for good, we decided to also use the second transfers in a way that will benefit us. It's been a while since it last rained in my area and due to the prolonged drought there is not enough water to even drink. We decided to buy a big tank to be fetching water so that once it rains, we will automatically get water. We won't suffer the way we have.
I also invested it on my children by paying their school fees. Thanks to GiveDirectly I can now sit confidently and only think of ways that will better my tomorrow.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($466 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 when I checked and confirmed that the message I had just received was from GiveDirectly. This confirmed the receipt of the first transfer, and even though I was not expecting it on the same day, I was glad to receive it. It was around 6:00 pm and was with my family members who were very excited when they received the news as well.
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 standard of living after obtaining a large water tank that has not only served my immediate family of seven but also the neighbors who sometimes need some water. A lot of time that would have been taken fetching water from the river can now be used in other activities since we have enough water collected from the rainwater.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
It has been hard fetching water from a river far away from my household. Borrowing some liters from the neighbors was hard since they were not always ready to help too. On receiving the first transfer, I invested heavily in purchasing a large water tank worth KES 35000. This has an enormous capacity that can collect a lot of rainwater from the roof. At the moment I am glad that my family of seven has been enjoying a plentiful supply of water and no longer visiting the river but depend on the rainwater from the tank and even sharing with the few neighbors who don't have any water reservoirs in their households. I also spent the remaining amount on paying school fees for my four children in various schools.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have a family of 7 who entirely depends on me for upkeep yet I rely on farming. Farming in our area especially maize has been performing poorly due to maize necrosis disease. In the last harvesting season, we managed to harvest only 2 bags of it in our 1-acre piece of land which cannot sustain my family, and sell the surplus to earn some cash. I have been aspiring to renovate my house which is in a deplorable state but old age has crippled my ability to work for a living and improve the house the way I wanted. I am expecting to spend approximately KES 30,000 on the first transfer to renovate the house in which we have lived for the last 27 years. I am super excited now that I have been enrolled to receive the transfer as I will materialize my dream soon.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In the last 2 months, we were able to harvest maize on our land which has brought joy and happiness to our lives. We are happy because we have maize in our gallery and do not spend a lot of cash to buy maize.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Food insecurity is the biggest challenge we are currently facing. We have been unable to harvest surplus maize from our 1-acre piece of land due to maize necrosis disease. In that piece of land, we managed to harvest only 2 bags of it which has forced us to look for alternative sources of income such as casual labor. Because I am in the sunset age of my life, my body has become feeble yet I have to work and fend for my family which makes me feel sad.
