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 ($461 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I do not have any new goal at the moment but I ntend to pursue my dream of putting up a business house in my farm which is situated along the road. With the first and second transfer, I was able to accumulate building materials but I have not yet completed the construction of the said house that will see me start a small business in it. I intend to bring it to completion as this will enable me earn some income that will improve our living standards as a family.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly did well by giving all the needy households money and without conditions on how to spend the money. We all spent the money in different ways but it is clear that everyone is happy and content in whatever they did with the money. Rarely did we see anyone that misused the money. We are so much grateful to GiveDirectly for the support and we couldnt ask for more.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Used KES 30000 to buy a dairy cow used kes 8000 to dig a wate pan. The remaining amount was useful in buying more building materials as I get ready to build a shop that will see me run a business in it once it is complete. I normally engage in farming which I support with irrigation water from a pan that I dug in my compound. The money came at a time that the pan was getting muddy and I had to use the money to make it good and be able to accumulate much more water. I am glad that the rains came after the clean up and soon I will embark on farming to improve our living standards furter as a family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($484 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 7am. When I was checking my phone as usually.
There was a message confirming that I have received money from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy because I have never received such amount of money before. I immediately inform my family members and everyone celebrated with joy. It was one of the best morning we have ever had. My fists and important thing was go Pay school fees for my children. This was always my wish. I went to withdrew the money and plan with my family the same day.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have paid school fees for my two children in secondary school and college. This was the biggest challenge that I had. My children used to be sent home and this was so stressful. I had no extra money to pay school fees. I depend on small scale farming and causal jobs in the village. Because of the recurring basic needs I was not able to save money for the school feel. Their performance were being affected. They were very demoralized. When I received the transfer from GiveDirectly I felt so happy. I paid all the balances and my children were able to study. Their performances improved compared to previous terms. I have peace of mind to do other activities at home. I no longer stress up like before. GiveDirectly has changed our living standards. We are able go educate our children and make them happy. I am so grateful for the support.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Spent half of the money to pay school fees for my children in various secondary school and colleges.This was one of my main focus because my children used to be sent home and this was so demoralizing and stressful. Currently they are studying well because I have paid School fees. I used some amount to buy timber planning on building a shop. The rest of the money I bought food and clothes.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have lived in a single grass-thatched house all my life. You can imagine how life is being in such a house with six grown-up children. I have had the desire to have a better house with enough space but my income is too little to enable me realize this dream. I am a person who does casual jobs such as weeding and fencing in people's farms to earn a living. These jobs are not guaranteed and pay as little as KES 200 per day which is all spent on buying food. I plan to spend KES 22500 on buying iron sheets and another KES 7000 to pay for labour. Receiving this money will help me build a bigger house that will give my wife and I the needed privacy that is currently lacking because of sharing the same roof with our children.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Four months ago I got an impromptu visit from my relatives who brought me gifts. They had put financial resources together and were able to bring home shopping of various food items such as sugar, cooking fat, maize flour, etc. This lasted me a whole two months and it was the ultimate source of happiness to me.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of consistent access to enough food for my family has been the biggest challenge I have faced in my life. I entirely depend on casual jobs within the village to earn a living and these jobs are not guaranteed. In a week I can be contacted 2-3 days and the rest of the days I am just idle with nothing productive to do. This often gets me worried about where my next meal will come from. My children have had to go to bed hungry in most cases because of my inability to secure a job. This has been the lowest point in my life and it has caused my children to regularly miss school.
