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 ($418 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
If I obtain some money, I want to add more livestock. I want to invest in livestock, which is why I am doing this. After all, they are secure to maintain and can be exchanged for money if necessary. For this reason, I made some purchases in both transfers and want to make more. They reproduce, so I know they will grow every year.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly succeeds by providing financial support. Receiving money and having the option to decide how to use it was priceless. I feel content and proud when I look at the house I built and the heifer I acquired. Everyone in the hamlet is feeling the same because they were able to invest their money however they felt most comfortable.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
It has been a dream come true to begin raising livestock. As I lacked the resources to own my own, I used to be in awe of other people's livestock. I spent $280 on a cow and two goats after receiving the second transfer. I am now content with my investment in animals. For $120, I also purchased a mattress and a bed. I started out with a traditional bed that was damaged and hard to sleep on. I am content right now because my bed is cozy and comfortable. I then utilized the remaining money to purchase some food and kept the remainder for the family's maintenance.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($484 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was extremely happy for receiving my transfer since I was sure that I will further the studies of my son who had not been able to join the secondary school for 3 years. I remember I had taken my livestock for herding and was on my way returning home at around 9 am. I heard my neighbors declaring that they had received their transfers. I went home to check my phone since I had left it in the house. I was happy and surprised to see that I had received my transfer.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I am currently living a happy and enjoyable life away from the stresses of lack of money to support my kid's education. I am very grateful to GiveDirectly for the transfer that has installed hope into my life and that of my child. I am optimistic that he will be able to complete his studies and have a better life. In addition, I own an indigenous dairy cow which will earn me a living from selling milk that will help me in paying the school fees.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Investing in my child's education by advancing his studies has always been my desire in my life. This is because my child had been stayed at home for 3 years after completing his primary education. For all those years I was living a worried and hopeless life seeing my kid staying at home while other children were about to complete their secondary education. This was a result of lacked money for him to join secondary school. After receiving my transfer, I spent KES 40,000 on shopping and paid part of the school fee. With the remaining amount, I bought one dairy cow for KES 15,000, this is a reliable source of income because I will be selling milk once it reproduces.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am a widow with a family of four children. Out of the four one completed his primary school education last year but one. However, due to lack of enough funds, it has been difficult for him to transition to secondary school. This is because we depend on his elder brothers to give us food for our survival. I am very old and cannot do any economic activity to earn some money. The only thing I can do is subsistence farming. However, due to the prolonged drought season, I can no longer do the farming. I am left with looking after three cows for other people then get a calf when any of them give birth to. Upon receiving the cash transfer, I will be able to take my son back to school so that he can access basic education. I will then use the remaining amount to buy five goats that I will keep and sell when they multiply as an investment for my child's education.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Last month, my daughter who works in mombasa bought us food that would last for two weeks. This brought happiness and joy to my heart because I was relieved of the stresses of looking for food considering that I have been depending on welwishers for our survival.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Poor health is the main challenge that I am currently facing. Over ten years now, I have been suffering from chest problems. Over the years, I have been doing charcoal burning business. This kind of business uses a lot of energy and this affected my health. I started experiencing pains in my chest. I went to the hospital and after a close examination, the doctors found out that the manual jobs that I have been doing, are the causes of my health complications. They prescribed me some drugs and after using them, I got better. However, after finishing my drugs, I still suffer from the disease and I cannot even walk for long distance. This has made it difficult for me to engage in any economic activity. Upon receiving the cash transfer, I will use part of it to buy the drugs and restore my health so that I can even engage in subsistence farming when it rains.
