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 ($512 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
check
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I was previously living in a grass thatched house for many years with no hope of upgrading to a better house. I am now living in an iron roofed house. Also, I have enrolled my son to a college. He would have stayed at home for months since I couldn't raise the tuition fee were it not for this financial help. He is now studying well through this money.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly has done well in uplifting our living standards because we did not have good houses, livestock but through this money, we now access to good shelter and have some livestock as living assets for ourselves. I don't see anything that GiveDirectly doesn't do well.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent part of the second transfer on buying building materials which include timber , nails and iron sheets. I was initially living in a grass thatched hut and my desire was to build an iron roofed house. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for enabling me achieve my dream. The money also helped me in enrolling my son to a technical college having completed his highschool studies. I used the remaining amount to buy some foodstuffs and paying for other household expenses.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($543 USD)
access_time almost 6 years ago
attach_money
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference that the transfer has brought into my daily life is that I now own some goats to boast of as my own assets, which previously I had none. It was only through GiveDirectly funds that I was able to acquire them, and I am sure of getting good returns from them and even enable me to buy cows through them.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I received the notification early in the morning as I was preparing myself for the new day's activities. I called for my son who came and confirmed that indeed GD had sent the first transfer. I was overwhelmed with joy and happiness than before. I could feel a ray of hope to my life again and imagined the financial peace I was going to enjoy.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent part of my first transfer to pay school fees for my two sons who were joining high school. To be frank, I was not well prepared financially as I didn't have a stable source of income to depend on and to save on for their education. Though my sons kept on reminding me that they wished to join soon. I was greatly troubled and I almost lost hope for them to attend school. They had performed well in their national exams, but I could not raise the money to take them to high school. Thanks to GiveDirectly for the transfer. I am glad It came at the right time. They are happily staying in school. Their dream of joining high school has become a reality through GiveDirectly. Alongside the school fees, they are also staying comfortably as I also managed to do them some shopping. I have always wanted to have cows, but the money that was remaining after paying school fees, which was my most felt need at that time was not enough for this. So, I decided to buy goats. Hopefully, once they reproduce, I will sell the kids, get enough money to help me purchase the cows. The cows will help me in milk production. This will be like an income generating activity to my household. My eldest son had finished school too some years back but was idling in the village. Part of the money I spent on starting him a small retail kiosk. With this, he is fully engaged and also makes his own income as he waits for a white-collar job something he envies. Lastly, on the same transfer, I was able to buy food for my family, at least with ease this time around. Honestly, through this transfer, I've experienced changes in life.
Enrolled
access_time almost 6 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have always wanted to venture into goat farming as a business but it has not been easy for me due to lack of finances. I am happy that at last I will be getting money from Give Directly which will see my dreams come true. I will buy ten goats for a start so that I can be able to do the business in order to be self-reliant.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Due to the back pain a developed as a result of lifting charcoal sacks, my daily schedule entails waking up at around 6 am in order to open my blacksmith shop that I started off as a hobby in my home compound. This has really become a full time job for me as I am able to feed my family with the money I get from selling some of my work which include knives and farm tools like hand-hoes.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I have been doing charcoal selling business and it has not been an easy task because it has made me to develop back pain due to heavy lifting of sacks of charcoal. The pain has confined me to staying at home as it is unbearable.