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 ($469 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?
I am still having the same goal like I had before.
My plan is to finish up building my house that I already started and buy two more cows to help in generating income.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Give Directly has done an incredible job so far.
peoples livelihoods have improved in so many ways like building decent homes, starting businesses, paying off debts and more importantly, hunger is now history here.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used the current transfers to pay for my two children school tuition, and bought the final building materials for the house we are finishing up building.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($485 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
At the moment I received the first transfer, I was very happy, and just like any other member of our village, I had to join my family in celebration as we thank God for the great promise that had been honored by GiveDirectly. We had already laid down plans with my husband and the receipt of the transfer marked the start of the work that we had set ourselves to spend on. I was with my children at home that day and had to rush to the nearby town where I collected the money in readiness to make the first purchase.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the joy of the great work that has just started in our household. The construction work had been so hard to initiate since we never had enough resources to obtain all the required construction materials. On receiving the transfer, I have seen great changes in that we already have most of what is needed to complete the renovation and the expansion of the extra room for my five children.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
With a large family of seven, living in a small house that was slowly getting older was no longer comfortable as we were running not only short of space but also the privacy especially for us as parents and also for the elder girls who dearly needed their room. With the first KES39000, I had to spend on sourcing all the construction materials that were listed down by our constructor. Initially, we had a plan to start the construction of a completely new one but the cost of materials that were so high pushed us to make some changes that we finally agreed on renovating the existing structure. I have so far obtained enough timber, nails and also paid part of the labor charges as I await the second transfer that will enhance the initiation of the renovation and the expansion of an extra room. I also settled school fees arrears of KES15000 to give my children ample time to study without missing classes. With the remaining amount, I obtained foodstuff for my household that included maize, sugar, and other cereals that we are still using as we work on our farms to provide more.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am a mother of six with no formal job to depend on. I love education even though I never had a chance to pursue it. I have decided to educate my children so that they can ripe fruits of education that I did not get a chance to. Receiving this money to me means a stable source of income. I will invest KES 30000 on a dairy cow to add to the one I have. I prefer a cow as a substance farmer since I will be there to look after it. In addition to it being an asset to us, I will be producing more milk from my farm. I will use the extra income from milk sales to educate my children and the surplus will be consumed by my family thus improve our nutrition.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I wake up in the morning to prepare breakfast and prepare my children to go to school. My husband does casual jobs in a nearby market called Siongiroi to provide for my family. The happiest part of my day is in the mid-morning. This is the time I am fully engaged in farm either taking care of my cow or crop farming. I enjoy this moment the most since I am alone busy looking for my family food and other resources to support our future needs.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of stable income is my biggest hardship. We primarily depend on my husband's casual jobs which earn him an average amount of KES 200 a day. This hardly satisfies our daily basic needs leaving us to forgo children's needs mainly education. I currently have a child in secondary school and raising his fee has been challenging with our little resources.
