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 ($442 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
check
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My new goal is to buy a piece of land because the initial one is very small and no longer productive. For years, I have been leasing from friends which was quite expensive. Sometimes I couldn't afford the cash needed which contributed to the famine. Therefore I strongly believe that the day I will be able to purchase the piece of land all my problems shall come to an end concerning food security.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly did so well by giving out cash transfers to improve the living standards of the individuals in my village. Currently, 100% of us now sleep under decent houses, own livestock and have been able to take our children to school. According to me, GiveDirectly has not done anything that is not good.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 24000 on buying livestock more than six goats. I have been thinking of owning them for years but I couldn't afford any at my cost because they were costly. I however settled for them because they require minimum supervision and they reproduce twice a year. I am therefore certain that I will have many of them within a short period which will empower me to accomplish my dreams such as sending all my children to higher learning institutions. Also, I paid fees of KES 12000 for my daughter who is in her second year in high school. I am glad that she won't be sent home due to the arrears like before. This has been demotivating her hence affecting her performance in particular. Finally, I bought food for my five family members and settled all the pending bills.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($475 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I felt so happy the moment I received money from GiveDirectly. It was around 6:00 am when I saw message from GiveDirectly. I later informed my husband who was so happy as well. We then sat down together as a family and made a commitment to stick to our earlier plans so as to reap maximum benefits from the transfers.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life is the goats that I bought. This is an investment that will see me earn more form the transfers and be more independent financially in the near future. The goats are drought resistant and therefore will not be affected by the prevailing dry weather. I feel so happy to have been part of the beneficiaries from GiveDirectly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
We spend the money on buying goats for keeping worth Kes 40000 and used KES 2000 to pay my solar bills and used the remaining amount to buy food for the family. The decision to invest in goats was to make sure that we have saved the money and they also easily multiply to make profits. The goats are also drought resistant and will always cushion us against emergency needs such as payment of school fees and other expenses.
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have always been a fan of livestock farming. One because they keep me busy and two because when they are ripe for sale, the returns are good. You can make up to KES 3,000 in profit per goat depending on the size. I will venture into that with a bigger amount of my transfers, approximately KES 80,000.
The rest I will use to buy a mattress, beddings, and food.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Before I gave birth to this precious girl in my arms, I had been married for twelve years. We had not been blessed with a child. Just when I had resigned to the fact that I just might never be a mother, my miracle came. I could not believe it. This child brought us so much joy, I do not think I'll get over the excitement soon.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Both my husband and I depend on the sales we make from charcoal for survival. We do not make a lot of money. The most we can fetch from one sack of charcoal is KES 500. In a week, we only make two sacks. Most times, we do not have money to buy food. We either get some from my mother-in-law or go to bed on empty stomachs.
