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 ($493 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is better because I am now own livestock like other in the village. This is my future investment for my family which will assist me in case of an emergency. Furthermore, I was able to get proper medication for my husband. Previously, I had lacked the enough capital to transport him to and from the hospital and for paying the medical expenses.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly, did well for helping the less fortunate in the society.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfer to seek medical care for my husband who had a kidney problems and required serious of X-ray. Also, I bought a cow for $160 in order to boost my livestock rearing which I had started with my first transfer. In addition, I save the remaining amount for my husband in case there is a need for more check ups.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($502 USD)
access_time almost 4 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was at the farm at around 12 noon when I heard my phone ringing. I decided to check and only to realize it was an Mpesa message from GiveDirectly they had debited my firsts transfers as promised. I was overexcited and started rejoicing together with my family.
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 am now a proud owner of two dairy cows and an ox. I have been having the desire to rear them but I could not afford them since they were very costly and the fact that I am jobless I could not achieve it. With the dairy cows, I assured of getting plenty of milk for free whereby some will be for my family's consumption which will be a surplus to their daily meals and the remaing liters I will sell it to the nearby local markets and friend and generate an income. Also with the ox, I will combine with that of my co-wife and make it a pair whereby it will be of great help to my agricultural activities. I will no longer have to hire those of friends hence saving the money and cater to some other household needs. Also, I will be hiring it to my neighbors and get an additional income as well. From the above, I am optimistic that my children will no longer be sent home to collect school fees since I will be paying in advance courtesy of GiveDirectly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my first transfer on buying some livestock such as two dairy cows and an ox at a total of KES 45000. This is what I have been longing to keep in my homestead for years but I could not afford it. I then cleared school fees arrears for my son who is in college. With the remaining amount of money, I bought sufficient foodstuffs and new clothes for my children.
Enrolled
access_time 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I live in a community where owning livestock is a sign of wealth and I have desired for a long time that I starting animal keeping. Due to the financial crisis, this desire has never come through and I have been living a life of regret. Receiving this money means a dream fulfilled since I plan to spend my first transfer to buy 4 indigenous dairy cows which I estimate to cost me $130 per cow. With time I will be able to milk them and sell within our village to get an income that can support my family's basic needs like food. On the other hand, I plan to use my second transfer to construct an iron-roofed house for myself because the one I currently have is grass-thatched, small, and at the same time used as a granary plus a kitchen. This will change my life's status quo and hence a better living.
What is the happiest part of your day?
As a housewife, I am entitled to do more of the household chores without any complain. This means spending the morning hours fetching water from a distance of 8 kilometers from home. When I am back, I prepare my first meal for the day if it is available before I join my husband in the bush where he is working;(doing charcoal burning). It is only in the evening when I get ample time to rest in my bed, and I usually get more re-energized for the next day's work. Therefore, I consider the evening as the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Charcoal burning is the only source of income that I majorly depend on for survival. Considering my gender, this job is dominated by men and it looks odd to me when I am engaged in it, but again I am forced to help my husband who is no longer energetic enough. Therefore, the lack of a reliable source of income becomes my biggest hardship.
