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 ($517 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The transfer helped me to pay for my son's college fees. I don't think I would have managed to raise the whole amount required had it not been the transfer from GiveDirectly. He is now in school having cleared the fee arrears. I also have livestock that include two heifers and goats which are to me assets of value. I will be getting milk from the heifers for my family's consumption and I am planning to sell the surplus to earn an income.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly has done well in giving us the transfer and plan for ourselves to uplift our living standards. I don't see anything that GiveDirectly does not do well.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent KES 17000 of my second transfer to buy a cow that I am keeping in my homestead. My house was also small and my children had to seek shelter from the neighbour hood at night. Thus I also took a portion of the money to buy some building materials that include iron sheets and building poles. My children will no longer be troubled on shelter. I also paid some school fees for them. Apart from these, I also bought some food stuffs and other basic family basic needs as well as paying for some households expenses.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($539 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
Before GiveDirectly came to us, I never owned any livestock in my life, though it had been my aspiration to have them since they are investments to me. Through the transfer, I managed to purchase a cow and the two goats, which I am hoping that they will reproduce, and increase in number and have many of them. I will also be getting milk from my own cow for the first time, I will no longer be buying from neighbours. To me, owning this livestock is the biggest difference in my daily life.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I received the transfer notification around 2 o'clock in the morning. However, I could read to comprehend the content of the message at that time. I waited anxiously for daybreak, called for my helper, who confirmed to me that the notification was from GiveDirectly, informing me that I had received my first transfer from them. I was overjoyed on hearing the good news, for I never anticipated in my life that I would receive such a fortune. I celebrated with my family as I planned on how I would spend this transfer to improve my living standard.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent KES 23,000 on the transfer to purchase a cow. I have been desiring to keep livestock in my homestead. I am expecting to benefit from the milk that the cow will be producing. I will be selling the surplus to earn an extra income. Apart from this, I am hoping that it will reproduce and have many of them as assets to me. In addition to this, I spent KES 5000 to buy two goats to keep also with the cow. I am also expecting them to reproduce in the near future and increase in number. I will have something to depend on in case of any financial crisis. I also spent the transfer to purchase pieces of iron sheets and other building materials for the extension of a room on my house because it was not spacious enough. I paid for school fees for my son in vocational training and I am happy that this will help me to prepare early enough for the next payment. In addition to all these, I spent the remaining amount to buy daily foodstuffs for my family. This would ensure that there is a daily provision of food and also ensure that other household expenses are met.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Four out of my seven children missed quality education because of poverty and only one managed up to standard eight. They now lead very difficult lives where the two men are casual labourers and the ladies are housewives. I would not want the rest to go through the same and my greatest ambition to educate them. I believe education is the only way that can give them a better future because they will be able to secure jobs. This means they will take care of themselves and also help my aging husband and I. To achieve this, I will purchase goats for rearing that I will sell out to finance their educational needs. I prefer goats because they multiply faster and are drought resistant enough to survive the harsh climatic condition in my area.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Casual jobs are quite tiresome but I have to do them in order to sustain my family. This therefore means, spending a whole day in the bushes to make ends meet. I hardly get time to interact with my family during the day. However, in the evening when I am back home we sit together to take supper. Having them around gives me joy to the extent of forgetting my financial problems, and this makes evening the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Subsistence farming being my main source of livelihood is not sufficient to meet my family needs. I therefore supplement this through casual jobs such as cutting down trees for sale. However, it is still not enough and in most cases my family goes without food. Besides, I cannot cater for medical and educational needs, a situation that prompted four of my children to drop out of school. In this regard, financial constraint because of lacking a stable source of income is my biggest hardship.
