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
55000 KES ($445 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?
I hope to begin construction work in the coming year now that I have completed the payment for the parcel of land. Building rental houses requires a lot of resources, so I am glad I have been an active member of a Sacco for the last year. We have been taking turns collecting our savings with the other group members with whom we are saving, and I believe I will get my share before the end of the year. I am hoping that once the construction is completed, I will be able to rent out the rooms and use the proceeds to support my family of three.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly did an excellent job that everyone in the village appreciated and is still pleased with. The rapid transformation demonstrates that cash transfers were the best way to affect significant change in every household. We understood every step of the enrollment process as explained by the field officers, and I hope that the same cash program is implemented in other villages.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I had one lactating cow that I purchased with a portion of the first transfer and needed another in the field to keep her company. I spent $150 on a bullock after receiving the second transfer, which I intend to fatten and sell in order to purchase another good lactating breed in the future. In addition, I paid $300 to a neighbor who was selling a plot of land. Since my family of three had been living on a small plot of land, I thought it would be a good idea to keep buying plots of land on which I hope to soon begin the construction of rental houses and rent them out as an additional source of income in the future. I used the remaining $100 to buy food for my family, which we ate for nearly a month before replenishing.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($468 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 5 pm while taking a walk to the nearest shopping center when I heard a message alert on my phone. On checking, I had received KES 55,000 from GiveDirectly. I was very happy and celebrated with my friends who had received theirs too in the shopping center.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving my transfers is the purchase of a dairy cow. This will be a source of milk for my family. Additionally, the milk will ensure the healthy growth of my baby.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Since I started my family last year we have been relying on my parent's cows for milk. So when the transfers arrived I saw the need to buy my cow. Therefore KES 30,000 was used on a dairy cow which will be a source of milk for the healthy growth of our baby.
Secondly, KES 20,000 was used in the building of a 16 Iron roofed and timber walled Kitchen. This is because we have been. cooking in our parent's house.
Lastly, KES 12,000 was spent on a solar lighting system. This will have helped in lighting my house and charging my phone.
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this amount will be of great help to me. I am a farmer and I major in dairy farming. My work involves lots of manpower and I have always thought of reducing the workload by buying animal feeds sharp-cutter costing approximately KES 40,000. If I become lucky to receive the transfer, I will prioritize buying the said tool. I am grateful for the positive impacts brought by Give Directly in the previous visited areas and I hope the same will spill over to my village.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Since the beginning of the year my wife have been much supportive. I was also blessed with a baby girl in January 2022. Her delivery gives me strength to workhard and it bestowed me a sense of responsibility. I am much happy because my small income nowadays is channeled towards meaningful projects.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Currently I face financial constraints and with a growing family of three, it is much challenging compared to when I was still single back in the year 2020. I used to sell 10 Litres of milk a day but currently I only sell 5 litres meaning the daily income has reduced by half. I am optimistic that the low output will increase with increasing level of rains in the region.
