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 ($461 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My dream is for me to be able to expand my business, this would mean that I will be able to attract more profit from it. I plan on realising this goal by saving at least a small percentage daily from my income plus, I would apply for a loan in a Sacco. I am so thankful for the support that opened new ideas in our lives.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
We are grateful for the support that uplifted our lives amazingly by lowering the poverty level in our community. We lack words to express how grateful we are for having received the unconditional cash from GiveDirectly. So far I haven't witnessed any inefficiencies.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received my transfer, I saw the need for expanding my house because of my family size which is growing. At the moment I have six children. GiveDirectly cash came as a huge relief in my life. This is because I was able to continue with the construction work, unlike before when I was unable to expand the house due to financial constrain since I depended on selling milk and farming which is not enough. Thus, I used a sum of KES 15,000. In addition to that, I bought a dairy cow, worth KES 30,000, to cut down on the cost of buying milk daily and also for business purposes where I would be able to sell the milk. Finally, I bought foodstuffs and clothes. The support from GiveDirectly impacted my life amazingly thus I am so happy that indeed my life has changed into a better one.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($484 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around midnight and I had just retired to bed. I heard. my phone ring to signify that I had received a message. That was so unusual of me and my phone. I took my phone and I immediately checked the contents of the message. I felt so happy to have received a sum of KES 55000 as earlier promised by GiveDirectly.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Right now am at a different level in life. I feel so much happy and at peace to know that I will no longer be making the long travels to rivers in search of water. Furthermore the water pumping machine has empowers us as a family to practice agriculture all year round without any hindrance from harsh climatic conditions. We can be sure as a family to have enough food supply all year round.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used KES 20000 to buy a water tank with a capacity of 3000 litres. I had all along desired to have a water tank and be able to collect rain water. The little amount that I received from subsistence farming could not allow me to accomplish this early enough or as soon as I wanted. I had to live with the discomfort of going to the river everytime to fetch water. Once I rceived money, I made a decision to buy one which I did. I was also able to buy a water pumping machine that helps with the irrigation of my farm during dry seasons. This will see me be food sufficient all year round irrespective of the climatic condition.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Upgrading of our household structure has been at the top of the wish list. Currently, we live in a semi-permanent house and we have been planning to build a brick house. My husband is a carpenter and I am a farmer and we decided to set aside a certain percentage of our earnings and save them over the last 5 years to build the desired house. What we have at the moment is short of KES 100000 and this is where Givedirectly transfer is going to clear out and ensure that the construction of our building is completed.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Being a farmer, I have been fortunate enough to have a number harvest of potatoes. This has been attributed to favorable climatic conditions and good seed varieties. Now I am selling them during our market days across all the market centers within my sub-county. I thank God for this.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am a farmer mainly growing maize, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, and sweet potatoes for the past 10 years. Maize has not been doing well of late due to prolonged drought and pests and diseases. I used to harvest over 20 bags of maize in an acre piece of land but this has been reduced to just 5 bags in one acre because of the above stated reasons. I am contemplating moving away from growing maize and venturing into other commodities yet it provides us with the staple food.
