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 ($491 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
check
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I am a farmer but I make Little from the farm because of the harsh climate, My life is different now because I have managed to start up a small business which will increase my income, I live with my niece who is an orphan and we were worried about how she would join secondary school due to financial constraints, fortunately, the transfer brought us hope, we are happy and grateful for the support.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
We were all served well, I thank GiveDirectly for their dedication and professionalism, l don't see anything they are not doing right.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used KES 15,000 to start a business to earn a living out, I live with an orphan in my house who will be joining Secondary school, So I saved KES 30,000 for her School fees, lastly, I bought a sheep with the remaining transfer.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($509 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
At the moment of receiving the transfer, we were so delighted with many expectations. It was an unusual feeling to know that we had received a good amount to sustain us and ensure that some financial challenges we had were about to be mitigated. We thanked God and the whole GiveDirectly team for the consideration and inclusion in the program.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
With the great plans we had with the first transfer, we are glad to adequately account for every coin we had up to this far. We have made more changes so far than we had expected but out of all, the biggest difference in our daily life is the joy and satisfaction when we look at our current standard of living. Every household member is glad to be in new trends, eating healthy with school fees fully paid, and enjoying the fact that farming is in place - giving us hope for the next harvest. We are thankful every day and for the past few months, we had been praying that all that we have invested our money in, may come out to be as productive as we had expected.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After the passing on of my sister-in-law who left three children at my mother-in-law's care, it became our mandate to ensure that they are taken care of, both in and out of school. It has been our responsibility as a household to ensure that we clothe them, pay their school fees, provide enough foodstuff for both them and our old mother-in-law. We also ensure that they attend their respective schools with no unsettled fees. Upon receiving the first transfer, we were really grateful to have an opportunity to clear all their bills, purchase new clothing not only for them but also for the other members of our household, and also added the foodstuff to sustain us over another two months. After ensuring that all was set, we spent the remaining amount in farm operations; planting of maize and finally decided to save some as we are expecting the elder girl to soon be appointed to her new school. The money has brought an impact and we are thankful to have received it at a time when we had a lot of needs to address.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My household depend on a combined income from the casual jobs that me and my husband do. My husband works as a security guard and I sell snacks and vegetables around the village. We are currently dependant on my source of income because since corona my husband's company have been delaying salary and all their employees had to take a pay cut.
Even though I haven't been blessed with children of my own, my husband and I have a responsibility of taking care of our late brothers children who live with their grandmother but depend on food and school fees from us. I live them as my own and I would love to use part of the transfer on their education by paying their school fees, buying a small plot where I can plant vegetables and sell. Income generated from selling the vegetables will partly be put in an account for their education. The remaining transfer will be used to invest in an income generating business as an additional source of income.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Each day I wake up at 7, take breakfast, do some chores in the house then go for work. I sell snacks by hawking within the village until evening then go back home, have dinner and sleep, the happiest part of my day is when am selling my products and I get compliments from my customers on how the products are good, this motivates me to work even harder in providing good services to my clients.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship for my household has been unemployment, I managed to go to college where I was studying for a course in biology. Unfortunately my parents prioritized my elder brothers education before mine and I was forced to drop out in my third year of school. My brother later died, but at that time I had gotten married already. My husband could not afford to pay my school fees so I decided to let that dream go. Sometimes I wonder if I had finished, then I would be able to help my husband in providing for the family since his job is based on short contracts.
