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.
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($502 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
check
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The fact that I have the resources for buying a pair of oxen is very pleasing for me. This is what I have been willing to have for long since I am a farmer but I did not have the required money to purchase them. Having the, I am assured of getting some plenty harvests because ethe pair can plough so many acres in few days compared to when I used to do the exercise by myself. It is now a relief to me because apart from helping me in ploughing my farm I will also be hiring it ti my neighbors at a fee.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly has done so well in our village first for the day were trained on how we can use the money and security measures to help keep our money safe. Also, we are now able to provide for our family al the basic needs. We also now have livestock as our assets to depend on, we constructed decent houses ad send our children to school.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent part of my second transfer in paying the dowry of KES 50000 for my son. This is because previously, he got married but never followed the correct procedure of paying the dowry first. This is because of the poverty life that had stricken my family. It is now a relief to us because we cleared all the dowry and we are living peacefully at a family. the remaining amount fo money, I am using it in buying some enough foodstuffs and some other household items.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($545 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
attach_money
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I now own a pair of oxen that I acquired with the first transfer. I believe they will be of great help in ploughing my farm since the pair can take fewer days to plough acres as compared to tilling myself. This will lead to increased harvest products. Apart from that, I will also hire them to my neighbors at a fee and get an income to help me sustain my family needs without straining.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 6 am when I was preparing breakfast for my children, then I heard my phone vibrating. I decided to wake up my daughter so that she can check who had sent the message. After checking she realized it was an mpesa message from GiveDirectly. On getting this news I was overwhelmed with joy and up to date, I am still happy.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent part of my first transfer on buying a pair of oxen. It has been my long time dream to keep then in my homestead but due to my poverty life I couldn't afford since they were costly to me. I believe the oxen will be of great help in my farming activities. I later bought a solar panel because previously I was using some candles and they were expensive and sometimes I couldn't afford to have them and I was forced to stay in the dark at night. This was affecting my children's academic performance since they were not able to do their school assignments at night most of the time. The remaining amount of money, I bought enough foodstuffs for my family and I.
Enrolled
access_time almost 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Subsistence farming is my only source of income but I do not produce enough. This is because I lack better farming equipment and I do not have enough money to hire, hence I only till 0.5 acres. This portion produces food that can last only for 3 months. I can simply say I am food insecure. To curb this situation, I will purchase a pair of oxen and an ox plough. This project has been my biggest ambition for a very long time. It will help me scale up farming and also generate income whenever I hire them at a fee.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening when I retire to bed. This is after a hectic day full of household chores and farm work. These activities are quite tiresome and they wear out my energy. However, in the evening I get time to rest and replenish the lost energy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My eldest son has been out of the village for the past 5 years. Since then I have not heard from him but people say that he is in Mombasa. I have tried to reach him several times but he doesn't pick my calls. He even stopped supporting me. His absence has put me into depression because I am not aware of what drove him to do so. I miss him a lot because the joy of a mother is to have her children's support. In my current situation I can say his disappearance is my biggest hardship.
