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 ($494 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?
My life is different than how it would have been had I never received the transfer. Before receiving the transfers, I owned an heifer. This is a different case now as I am a proud owner of a dairy cow, some goats and chicken in addition to the heifer. These are assets that I can easily depend on in case of an emergency. Also, owning these assets has enabled me to no longer overwork myself as my daily expenditure has reduced since I do not buy milk anymore like before.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly does well by treating everyone fairly by giving us equal amount of money and I do not see anything that they do not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent 19000 KES from the money I received to buy some furnitures for my family. I received this transfers when I had just completed building a more spacious house and the chairs we had were not enough for more than 5 people to sit in comfortably. Also, I spent KES 22000 to purchase some goats for rearing and some chicken. These are assets to me that I can rely on in paying school fees for my children and in meeting our daily household needs. On the remaining amount, I spent them on farming by hiring a tractor for farm preparation purposes and buying quality seeds. I am now optimistic of a good harvest that will last my family till the next harvesting season.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($493 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was at 7.02am in the morning when I saw the text and I was taking care of initiates, when I saw the message, I was very delighted and jumped up and down that initiates wondered what was going on and when I told them about the transfers, they shared in my happiness.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Right now I can milk my own cow and even sell surplus milk to my neighbours in the village. The money I make is used to buy basic necessities like sugar, salt, cooking oil and soap and this way, wee have not lacked anything. It has always been my dream to own a cow and thank you GiveDirectly for making my dream come true.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I bought a cow which I am currently milking and 3 goats. I also improved the roof of my house by buying new iron sheets and installing them. The remainder part of the money, I bought clothes for my children.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money would mean so much to me and my family too. We live in an area that is frequently hit by drought, and so we cannot solely depend on the crops that we plant. I plan to start poultry keeping if I get lucky to be enrolled in GiveDirectly program as this will be a good additional source of income. For a start I want to have 50 chicken each costing 500 shillings. From this I will get 50 eggs per day which I will sell in a nearby market at a cost of 10 shillings each. This will translate to 500 shillings daily. This will fully cater for my family's daily needs and my children going to bed hungry will be a thing of the past.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I am always happy in the evening because this the time I get to be with my entire family. This is the only time that I bond with my young children because during the day I am away trying to fend for them.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Providing for family is the greatest challenge I am facing right now. I have a family of 9 and fully catering for them all on a daily basis is an uphill task for me. It is so shameful to see my children going to the neighborhood to have something to eat because they have nothing in their home. This is something that is super stressing me as a parent. I have tried farming but because of persistent drought all I getting is losses after losses. All that is left for me to do is being a casual labourer in people's farms. This too is not paying enough because the much I get is 100, sometimes 200 shillings. This is never enough for my big family.
