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 ($467 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My new goal is to construct my barber shop to cut the expenses of paying rent for my current location. This will enable me to divert the rental expense to cater to other family needs. In addition, I also plan to expand my barbershop by adding other equipments which means more clients and more income. Am a firstborn and my siblings look up to me.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Givedirectly did well by enrolling each individual fairly from each homestead and I also appreciate the thorough work done during the entire stages of enrollment. However, I feel some people who equally needed help were left out and this should be looked into in the future.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
By the time I received my second transfer, I had school arrears for my secondary school siblings. I prioritized paying Kshs.16,000 to avoid being sent home and also gave them a humble time studying what they had missed. I also added a heifer worth Kshs.24,000 to my livestock which in the future will provide us with surplus milk hence we can sell to get an extra income. With Kshs.1,800 I bought a knapsack sprayer which I can use to control pests on my crops on the farm. With the remaining amount, I used to purchase food for my family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($502 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I had the utmost happiness in confirming the receipt of the first transfer. Alone in the house, I needed to celebrate with all the excitement I had, but the mixed reaction I had could not allow me. At first, I thought it could have been the fraud messages that had been circulating. I had to first visit the nearest Mpesa shop where I tried withdrawing a small amount to be sure whether it was real. On coming back, I was so happy and with the confidence of sharing the joy with my other household members.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life after receiving the first transfer is the investment in livestock. Buying four sheep at once is such a great leap in my life as they will soon be reproducing, and their multiplication will lead to the development of future great projects including payment of school fees for our kids.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Living with my sister with her three children under a small shelter so old was not that good. It has been our prayer that we may construct a bigger and better one day. On receiving the first transfer, I purchased construction materials that were mostly irons sheets and building posts at $240. I have managed to renovate and construct an extension of the old house creating another spacious room on the side. I also spent $160 on the purchase of 4 sheep. This is a long-term investment targeting to fund my siblings in the future as they are still in their lower primary school currently. Having been farming vegetables for quite some time, I had been facing a great challenge on pest control. I needed a power sprayer, and with just $18, I was able to secure one. With the remaining $80, I obtained enough foodstuff for the household.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have been aspiring to educate my younger sister and fulfill her dreams. We lost our parents when we were still young, leaving me with no option but to wear their shoes. She wants to pursue her education and become a career woman. I am therefore planning to use my first transfer to pay her Secondary level school fees because she recently completed her Primary level education. Receiving this money will mean a fulfilled dream for my sister.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening. I usually spend the entire day working as a casual laborer within the village. The kind of job I do ranges from fencing, digging, weeding, and doing any other available job on other people's farms. Having time to relax in the evening after a long tiresome day makes me happy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in life is a lack of money to cater to my family. We separated from my wife last year because of the inadequacy of funds. Something that has led to the low esteem in life. My intention now is to spend my transfer to meet my sister's education expenses first then use what remains to bring back my wife. I work as a casual laborer in the village working on other people's farms. On a good day, I go home with approximately Ksh 300 on average. This money is not enough to cater to a family of two and meet the education expenses of my school-going sister.
