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.
Follow to
be updated on Augustine's next check-in.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($438 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
We were at home going about our normal duties at home when we heard our phone ring. We were not so much anticipating to receive the money at that particular time and we were kind of taken by surprise. When we confirmed that we had been sent the money, we were able to withdraw the same the following day. We later spent the money on buying a heifer among other priorities that we had set.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the reviving of dairy keeping. We had dairy cows that were supporting us a lot. I had two good dairy cows which supported me a lot in meeting the daily needs of my family including buying food for the family. Things had become a little tough after I lost both of my dairy cows. Getting GiveDirectly transfers and using them to buy at least one dairy cow has made me very happy.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When we received the first transfer we used $400 to buy a heifer as I had promised during enrollment and used another $200 to assemble building materials in preparation to building a better house as we had agreed with my wife during enrollment. Since the money came at a time that we were celebrating Christmas, it was also an opportunity to celebrate Christmas in a classy way with my family of three. We feel so much indebted to GiveDirectly for the support and what we were able to do with it. We look forward to receiving the second transfer where we will use the transfer to build a better house.
Enrolled
access_time almost 2 years ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
I am an epileptic man who is constantly on medication to limit the seizures I always get. This condition has confined me in my compound because I fear for my safety every time I am away. Since I cannot go out to seek for jobs I have a desire to venture into dairy keeping so that I can also earn a living. My wife Mercy has been engaging herself in tiresome jobs like doing weeding in other peoples farms for a living and I want her to abandon that and assist me run the dairy business. I plan to buy a cow worth $400 that will produce not leas than 5-liters per day. Each liter of milk is sold for $0.7 and I am certain that I will transform my family financially.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I have a 0.4-acre plantation of maize and 3 days ago I went to check and found that it is ready for harvest. I am happy that I have ready food to last my family for at least 1 year or so.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Food insecurity is one major challenge that my family is facing. I am epileptic and this hinders me from working to my full potential in order to provide for my young family. I normally get at least one seizure per day and I always confine myself to my compound to make sure I am safe in case of an attack. This leaves my wife as the only breadwinner and more often than not she is overwhelmed. She works as a casual laborer, working in other people's farms, doing manual jobs like weeding, to put food on the table for the rest of us. The much that she can earn on a good day is $3. This is not enough to buy 3 meals for the day.
