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 ($442 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Having acquired a cow and build a house, I look forward to buying a piece of land so that I can use it for farming. I work as a mechanic at a nearby shopping center and through my earnings, I can save through a merry-go-round savings plan so that I can achieve my goal.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly empowered us to actualize our dreams which we had. Due to a lack of finances, some of us were not able to achieve them but as it is now we have made a step forward. In my view, GiveDirectly did well by uplifting the lives of less fortunate people like us in our village.
According to me, I didn't see anything that wasn't done well as the process was so transparent and fair to everyone.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The second transfer which I received enabled me to achieve two things in life. One, I bought a heifer for KES 32000, which I acquired so that I would keep it for milk production. Secondly, I spent KES 20000 on purchasing building materials for completing the construction of my house which was under construction. I am glad that now I got a better house and livestock which I couldn't afford anytime soon.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($484 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was in the nearby shopping center at around 9:00 pm when I received a message from GiveDirectly that confirmed the receipt of my first transfer. I was so happy that I could not hang around anymore but had to ride home immediately to share the news with my household. It was a great moment for me after planning all I needed to spend the money on - right from the first day of enrollment. I never had any hurry of collecting the money though but after a week, I visited the same shopping center where I collected all the money and started distributing among the various projects we had agreed on with my family members.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the peace of mind that I am currently enjoying after receiving the first transfer. I have been able to do a lot that would have taken me more than a year to complete. I am grateful and working hard to see that the construction is completed with the second transfer that I will soon be receiving.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After buying the piece of land that I am currently living in a year ago, I had never been able to construct decent structures in it but all along, we had been residing in an old mud-walled house with my family of four. On receiving the transfer, my household decided to transform all that we had been using by obtaining timber, iron sheets, and other construction materials that would help in putting up a new house for my family. So far I have spent KES 25000 on the construction of a new kitchen and working on the timber cutting that will, in turn, be useful in the construction of another main house. At the moment the approximate value of the materials available that will be useful in the construction of a second house is KES 35000. I am glad that the transfer I received has boosted this work and I am hoping that the second transfer will still help in the starting to the completion of the second house.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means improved housing. I have one small house and I left behind my single mother living in Transmara. It has been my ambition to bring her and live with us but my house is too small to accommodate her and my family. I intend to build a more spacious house costing around KES 150000. This transfer may not be sufficient but I will use it to buy the material needed. The little money I earn from the garage will help me complete it.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In our culture owning a cow is prestigious and recently my cow calved and I can now get four liters of milk per day. My family now has sufficient milk to drink especially my two children who love milk. This has brought joy and happiness into my life as it has reduced my family's budget for buying milk from vendors.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest challenge is financial constraints. I work as a mechanic in a garage nearby where I am employed. I earn KES 400 per day this money is enough to purchase food for my family and no extra to save. My mother is single and she is lonely and I was wishing to come and live with us but this has not been possible due to lack of money to build a more spacious house to accommodate all of us.
