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 ($517 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
check
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 not received the transfer because I now have a dairy cow that I did not have before. I believe that it will be calving very soon and J will no longer continue buying milk. Also, we live in an old small house that cannot accommodate us comfortably. I believe that this will end soon since I am planning to fix windows in mg newly built house so that we can relocate to it.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly did well in all aspects of their operations and I do not see anything that they did not do well.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent my second transfer to buy a dairy cow as a way of investing this money. Also, I spent some amount on farming. I hired a tractor for land preparation and planting purposes and also bought enough hybrid seeds. On the remaining amount, I bought some decent clothes and food to last us for some time.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($531 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
attach_money
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
I had desired to build a decent house for my family so long but I had not been able to fulfill this due to lack of money. Currently, being able to build a spacious house makes my daily life different from how it was before. This is because I now live happily since we can now have our privacy at any time. Also, I no longer worry about the leaking roof which I had not been able to renovate it due to lack of money. Had it not have been for GiveDirectly, I would not have been able to achieve all his.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was early in the morning after waking up when I realized that GiveDirectly had sent us some money. I was immediately filled with happiness upon realizing this since I knew that I would be able to achieve my life goals using this money.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
When I received my first transfer, I spent part of it to buy some building materials majorly irons sheets, nails, timber and also paid a mason for the work of building a spacious for my family. I settled on this since we have been living in a one-room house that could not accommodate us comfortably. Also, my visitors always had to seek shelter from my neighbors whenever they visited. I am glad since I can now host them without worrying too much about their accommodation. Also, I bought two goats for rearing and some chicken. I settled on buying goats since they are cheaper and they reproduce within a short time. I will sell them after they have increased in number and use the money to buy a dairy cow. I used the remaining amount to buy two sacks of maize flour and decent clothes and shoes for my family.
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means i will be able to build a three roomed iron roofed house since the hut we currently live in is too small considering that i have two teenage children who have had to sleep at their grandparents house in order to leave some space for their siblings. I also intend to buy two dairy calves that will be our source of income upon selling milk after they multiply in future
What is the happiest part of your day?
I usually spend most part of my day engaging in tedious casual jobs in people's homes till evening when i head back home after being paid the day's wages, the time i consider myself most happy since i get to reunite with my spouse and children.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Being a casual labourer, unreliable source of income has been a great challenge to me given that i am the breadwinner of my family. I depend on engaging in jobs such as farming; tilling and weeding people's farms to earn a living and it is never a guarantee to get such jobs at the end of the day, which is the biggest hardship i face.