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 ($528 USD)
access_time 4 years ago
check
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different in that I have a dairy cow. Very soon we shall have plenty of milk in our homes and meet other daily needs without having to struggle like we are doing now. This will improve the living standards of my family and lead to increased productivity in the family as well. My child was also able to transition from a public primary school to a private one courtesy of GiveDirectly transfers.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly did so well in giving money unconditionally to everyone in the village without favouring or discriminating on anyone. This has allowed most of the households to uplift their living standards and be at bar with households that were thought to be higher in terms of living standards. The fact that the money was sent directly to each recipient also assured us of total amount of money meant for us contrary to a situation whereby there would have been middlemen. On the other hand, I did not find anything that I thought GiveDirectly should change or improve in their operations. They were simply the best.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I used part of my second transfer to buy a dairy cow and used the remaining amount to pay school fees for my child who was joining a private school. The purchase of a dairy cow was informed by the fact that we did not have one of our own and we were spending a lot of money buying milk from our neighbors each day. The dairy cow shall not only be of help to us in providing milk for the family but also in meeting other family expenses with the proceeds from the selling of surplus milk produced. This shall lead to reduced cost of living and better living standards fro my family and I. It shall also be a constant reminder of the support that I received from GiveDirectly.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($540 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
attach_money
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
Currently, we have really not had much difference in our daily life but the happiness and the atmosphere within our household since we received the transfers have been amazing. We are now optimistic that in the next few weeks, changes will have been many, among them is the cow which we'll be buying and also restocking of the shop.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
Happiness was the order of the day after receiving the money from GD, I really felt good, thank God for giving us hope again in our household after several years of suffering. Celebrations in the village started way too early; immediately as the notification message came in. I tried sleeping to at least awaits the sunrise as |I have always done but it really wasn't possible. I had to wake my children and husband up who also never hesitated after hearing of the good news. All along since then, happiness has been part of us, something which has strengthened the bond in our family.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
After receiving our first transfers, we have been busy laying down strategies on how best we will spend them in our household. In our household, we are blessed with a good number of children both ours and the relatives who came to stay with us. Over time now we have been buying milk from the neighborhood which has never been that easy since settling huge monthly bills has been hard. School fees payment being part of the bills, we have decided to purchase a good breed of cow which will be producing milk both for domestic and commercial purposes. We have set aside 30000 KES for the same and the remaining amount will useful in restocking my newly constructed shop and also in refilling the household goods.
Enrolled
access_time over 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I build a small shop by the road side at the edge of my piece of land.It's one year now and the shop is empty because I was left with no money to stock it.I am now glad because with the money from Give Directly I will be able to stock my shop and set the business on.I will invest Ksh 20,000(200 USD) on this business.My shop will be closer to the villagers hence they will be able to get some of the items they need at their convenience. My other plan is buying a dairy cow costing around Ksh 30,000(300 USD).I currently have one cow and I feel its time to add another since I have grown enough feeds to support one more cow.I sell 2 litres of milk in a day and my aim is buying a more improved breed so that I can be selling around 8 litres a day.This will translate to ksh 200 in a day.(2 USD)
What is the happiest part of your day?
After having breakfast in the morning I go to my farm and work till noon.I have a variety of crops in my farm.This includes maize,beans,sweet potatoes and vegetables.The farm is my main source of income.I therefore enjoy the morning hours when working in my farm.In the afternoon I relax a little bit as I look after my cow.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have been facing in my life is lack of a stable source of income.I mainly depend on subsistence farming and the little that my husband gets.My husband has been in and out of work because he has been working with short contracts with the Kenya government.I remember sometime last year when life was very difficult since he was out of contract.For me I really wish that I could help my husband more in providing the basic needs.I have a certificate in Secretarial studies but I have not secured employment because the job market is very competitive.I have a plan of going back to school to advance more to a higher level.
