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 ($521 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is different from how it would have been had I not received the transfer because I am now a proud owner of a dairy cow. Currently, I have my own milk that I sometimes sell to my neighbors in order to get money to use in buying some of our basic needs. Also, I have experienced the joy of owning an asset that you can lean on in case of financial challenges in the future.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly did well by deciding to give us financial aid unlike other organizations who decides what to buy for the beneficiaries and I do not see anything that they did not do well.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
When I received ng second transfer, I bought a dairy cow and two sheep. We settled on this as a family so that we would also have a cow of our own since my mother in-law had been the one giving us milk to use in making tea for my family. I believe that it will be calving soon and I will have enough milk for our consumption and sale to earn an income. Also, I bought some decent clothes and two sacks of maize to last us for some time.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($546 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
Having enough food to feed my family is the biggest difference in my daily life. For the past 5 years, we have not been able to harvest our maize plant. This is because it was affected by a certain disease and drought. Because of this, we have been forced to be doing a lot of casual jobs at least to get some money to buy food. But getting the transfer has gone a long way in helpng to feed my family.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was very early in the morning when I was woken up by a text notification. Upon checking, it was notifying me that I have received money from GiveDirectly. Immediately, I informed my spouse about the good news. We were very happy. We thank GiveDirectly for this financial assistance.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent part of my transfer to purchase building materials. We have been dreaming of building a larger house because the one we had was not spacious enough especially the time when we get visitors. Also, the nature of this house could not harvest rainwater. We wanted this not only to accommodate visitors but also to assist us to harvest rainwater. This will assist us to reduce the long-distance walking searching for water. Lastly, I spent the other part of transfer on purchasing a dairy cow. Buying milk every day is very expensive because we depend on casual jobs as our source of income and sometimes we could not secure one because most of the people in my area depend on it also. Thanks to GiveDirectly. The transfers have really brought change in our lives.
Enrolled
access_time almost 6 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Over the past 5 months, I have been buying 2 cups of milk daily to sustain my family since we do not own a cow of our own. Therefore my first priority is to purchase a dairy cow upon receiving the first transfer -a burden eased and KES 900 saved per month. My husband is going to save the money that could otherwise have gone to this expense for other household needs. This also means my family will have enough milk to consume and surplus for sale.
What is the happiest part of your day?
This is a planting season and therefore after breakfast in the morning, my daily activity involves going to our farm to plough and plant maize. I join my friends to collect firewood in the afternoon. It is in the evening that I find time to bond with family, eat and a have a little talk. This is the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My thirst for education was cut short two years ago when I became pregnant in class 7. Guilt, shame and condemnation overcame me and my esteem hit a rock bottom. When I couldn't summon the courage to face my parents, I ran away to the man responsible for my baby and has been married for two years. Being a mother at such an early age is an incessant thought of regret I have harbored since then. My ambition was to continue with education and acquire skills than would give me a better life than this.
