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 ($435 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
check
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I have not completed building my house, I already bought iron sheets, timber, and nails with the first transfer. My goal in 2023 is to work twice as hard and complete the house. My other project is to start a retail shop to increase my stream of income.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I am thankful for the support. We are happy that GiveDirectly has given us this transfer with no strings attached.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I did not complete my education and getting a stable job has been difficult. All I find are casual jobs. I have been doing masonry work for over ten years and I am skilled in what I do. I get jobs twice a week getting a wage of $10. This money is not able to cater to my family's needs. I have five children that need school fees. My wife is a farmer and when she gets produce from the farm that's when she chips in. My biggest problem has been finding a permanent job. Receiving this transfer has enabled me to pay school fees for my children without strain.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($471 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I am a small-scale livestock farmer, an activity that I had been dependent on for a very long time. I was in the bush grazing my goats at around 7:30 am when I received the message alert on my phone. At first, I thought they were normal messages from the service provider. After checking, I was extremely happy when I realize that I had received the transfer. I could not hold the happiness that I had and returned home to inform the rest of my family members about the good news. We both celebrated and thanked God for the aid.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Being able to further the education of my kid by taking him to secondary school is the biggest difference in my daily life. Previously, I was confused about what to do since I did not have any savings for him. I am very grateful that the transfer has enabled me to support his education and relieved me of the burden.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My elder kid had just completed primary school and was about to join secondary school. I did not have any savings to further his studies. Receiving the transfer was a great opportunity for me. I spent KES 15,000 to support his education by purchasing the required shopping items for him to join secondary school. Similarly, I used 10,000 for paying part of the term one fees. I am currently happy that he is learning without any challenges. In addition, I spent the remaining amount to construct a spacious house for family. The one I had was very small to fully accommodate all the family members. Also, I was sleeping in the same room with my grown-up children something that was very shameful to me. Currently, I am constructing a two-roomed house which will be enough for us and our household commodities.
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I would like to put up a new structure as the one I have is not in an excellent condition. It's just a twelve by eight structure that is hardly spacious enough to house my family of four. On top of that, it also has a roof that is made of both iron sheets and palm leaves. This happened because I ran out of materials to finish it off. Walls are also getting washed down due to the fact that the roof is obviously leaking. And being a single room, my privacy is equally compromised and hosting guests is impossible. Therefore receiving this money simply means shelter to me.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Given my current condition of joblessness, It's not so easy to be happy most of the time because I do not even have money. Most of the time we have to resort to charcoal burning to make ends meet. This is the only way we can earn regularly to be able to feed my family and pay school fees for our children. I would say that I'm always happy only when I manage to get food for my family at the end of the day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I do not have a reliable source of income. I stopped working in Mombasa about five years ago when my father died and ever since I haven't been successful finding enough masonry jobs to survive on. Economic status of local residents is too low which makes it impossible for them to build most of the time. Right I'm already beginning to develop plans of starting livestock farming to earn a living.
