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 ($497 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
With the transfers from GiveDirectly, we managed to buy livestock and build a good house. Now we have two cows courtesy of GiveDirectly. We have a house made of ironed roof and timber wall. On my own I couldn't afford to build one and instead we would still be living in a one room house.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly changed our lives through these transfers. The money which we received, enabled us to acquire that which we couldn't be afford.
To me, there was nothing which wasn't done well. The process was so fair to everyone in the village.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My second transfers which I received, I spent KES 15000 on completing the construction of my house which I had constructed halfway with my first transfers. I then spent another amount of KES 20000 on buying a heifer for rearing. Also, paid school fees of KES 10000 and buy some clothes with the remaining amount.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($502 USD)
access_time almost 4 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was on 16th December at 1pm and was weeding in my shamba when I heard a passerby say that our neighbouring village had received the transfers. About 10 minutes later, my transfer message arrived and immediately I left for Bomet town to go collect the transfer after hurriedly taking lunch.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The house I used to live in was both kitchen and main house.I decided to build a bigger house so that the older house becomes our kitchen to avoid smoke in the bedroom which usually irritates the eyes especially when one wants to sleep and they get so painful.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I fenced my compound using a chain link so that I can be able to rear chicken without having to worry about them straying to my neighbours' farms. I am also constructing a bigger house for my family.
Enrolled
access_time 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money will enable me to buy two heifer cattle for $140 each. I plan to sell the heifers and buy a piece of land later after they multiply. I also intend to build a two-roomed iron-roofed house that will cost me $300. The current one-roomed house that I stay in with my family serves as a kitchen as well as a bedroom. This is a hazard especially for my one-month-old baby more so when smoke fills the house now that we use firewood to cook.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My usual morning routine entails going to the farm to cut nappier grass for my cattle to feed on, after which I work on the farm till midday. I always enjoy working during this time when the weather is still favorable unlike working under the scorching sun in the afternoon hence morning is the happiest part of my day
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of a sustainable source of income is the biggest hardship I face. I used to work in a coca-cola company as a casual laborer but since the onset of the corona Virus pandemic, I lost my job after being downsized by the company. Since then, I haven't been able to secure any other reliable job. I usually look for casual jobs to engage in to earn a living that would enable me to support my household needs adequately. However, it is never a guarantee to get work to do due to the remoteness of this area.
