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.
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($444 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?
Our new goal is to fence our compound and partition the grazing field so that we can have paddocks for grazing animals on rotation. Before GiveDirectly came into our lives, we were struggling to complete our house which was under construction but when we got the money we were able to complete it in good time. Having achieved our goal of having a house, we intend to put up a perimeter fence to confine our livestock within a given section. Also, we shall have paddocks that shall enable us to manage pasture for our livestock and ensure the continuous supply of feeds.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I can say that GiveDirectly did well by enrolling us into this cash program in our village. Most of us were struggling a lot without success due to a lack of finances.
Three households in our village were not included in the program yet they were residents of our village. Such people should not have been left out because they were in need like most of us.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
We do farming as our main source of income and to boost milk production, we added a new heifer to our stock. We bought a heifer for KES 25000. The remaining amount of KES 28000, we spent on paying school fees for our three children who are in school. The money safe us from stress which we would run into struggling to pay school fees for them.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($475 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 7 am while milking cows that blissful morning. That's when my kids came running joyfully informing me of the arrival of my transfers. I was very excited and this motivated me to finish milking the cows joyfully. And I withdrew the money the same day at the noon hour.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started the transfers is the completion of my house. I started building it last year but the project has been on and off due to shortage of funds on the way but GiveDirectly came right on time.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
During enrollment, I had built a five-roomed brick-walled house but was incomplete due to a shortage of funds.
So when I received the transfers I topped up KES 40,000 with some money I had. I, therefore, used it in plastering the floor, fixing window panes, and durable Iron doors. As a result, my house is now complete and very beautiful and now I am only looking forward to furnishing it.
Additionally, I spent KES 10,000 on the latest clothing fashion for my family. As a mother of five I can attest that my family looks more decent.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have been having a long-term goal of having a permanent house. I started building my house one year ago and I'm yet to complete it. I had a projection of completing it in the next three months and I can see I will achieve it. I plan to use KES 40,000 to do finishing, windows, and doors. I also have children in school, whom I plan to use the rest of the amount to pay up their school fees. Receiving this money, therefore, means I will achieve my dreams of a better house and also the success of my children in school.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I planted maize six months ago during the last rainy season. So far they are doing good, unlike the previous years where they did not do well. As a farmer this is my joy, I know you harvesting and selling, I will get money to meet the needs of my household including school fees.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest challenge is financial constraints. We solely depend on farming and rearing cattle as the main source of income. During dry seasons, it gets hard as we might not harvest much and the cows may not produce much milk-making us struggle to meet our needs. It gets harder to pay school fees because we have four children in different school.
