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 ($493 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
As a family, we lead a more satisfying lifestyle and our self-esteem has improved a lot after receiving the transfer because we have quality seats, clothes, and relatively enough food in our household. Before receipt of the funds, we used to experience regular deficits of crucial food items and clothing. Besides, we were less ready and willing to welcome visitors yet we had no seats in our new house. Also, my son enjoys ample study time after attaining all the necessary learning resources and paying fees on time.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly does well by visiting every household in the village and determining their eligibility. This helps in ensuring that no deserving household is left out of the program unlike if the firm had chosen to rely on intermediaries. It is great that GiveDirectly is fair during the enrollment processes. In my opinion, there is nothing that the organization is not doing well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used 60 USD of my second transfer on purchasing furniture since we had a new house with no seats. Also, we bought clothes worth 50 USD to ensure my family members look smart and decent because the ones we had were torn yet we had no savings for acquiring them. Moreover, we purchased food items worth 130 USD because we had exhausted foodstuffs in our store. Some tropical diseases destroyed our crops, hence the little we got could not sustain us even for two months. Still, we spent 80 USD on agriculture since the transfer arrived when we were planning to plant some crops. Finally, I used 200 USD on educating my son who has just joined college. I thank God that the money was sent when I was wondering how to raise the needed college fees and related expenses.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($494 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was still asleep when I heard my phone beep at around 5am in the morning. I was not sure of what I was looking at and I called my son who sleeps in the next room to come check out the message for me. When he confirmed that it was the GiveDirectly transfers that we had been promised, I was very excited and I stayed for 3 days before I cashed out the transfer.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I used to live in a leaking grass thatched house. I could not afford to build a house since thee little money I afforded was channelled to food and school fees. Thank you GiveDirectly I now have a good house for my family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I built an iron roof house with 25 iron sheets , bought a sack of maize and bought clothes for my family members..
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I majorly depend on farming my 3 acre pieace of land where I plant vegetables, maize and beans which I latter sell to earn a living. Prolonged drought in this region has however rendered my farm unproductive hence supporting my family needs, more so food has become a big challenge.I therefore plan to spend $150 of my transfer to buy an ayrshire dairy cow whose income from selling milk will supplement my farming. I will also spend $120 to buy sheep for rearing since sheep multiply at a faster rate hence an assurance that my son who will soon be completing his primary education will not lack school fees to futher his education. I also intend to spend $300 in building a more spacious two roomed iron roofed house since we currently live in this small hut with my teenage sons.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My usual day involves working in my vegetable farm during morning hours with my sons. We usually come back home during midday carrying some vegetables from the farm to prepare our midday meal, after which we take a rest under a shade chatting.This is the time I am most happy
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
It has always been my dream to educate my children to the university level, a dream that has been rendered futile now that three of my sons are secondary school drop outs due to lack of school fees to futher their education. I mainly depend on selling my farm produce to earn a living, but due to prolonged drought in this region, land productivity is low hence poor harvests. My son who graduated from the university is still jobless hence I got no one to give me an helping hand in educating my other 3 sons, which is the biggest hardship I face.
