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 ($465 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I did not have a new goal before receiving the transfer. I had planned on building a better and more spacious house for my family. We used to live in a small house that could not host all my family members comfortably. I am so grateful because GiveDirectly has improved our living standards.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The pieces of training and the registration process were done so well without discrimination. Everyone who was enrolled received the money and spent it well. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent half of the money I received from GiveDirectly on completing the construction of my new house that I started using the previous transfer. We lived in a small house that could not host all my family members comfortably. I had always wished to own a spacious house and invested half of my money in this. I am so grateful because currently, we live in a better house. I spent the part of the money on food, sky blast for storing clean water for domestic uses, clothes for my children, and finally bought some household items which we did not have before receiving the transfer We are so grateful for the support because GiveDirectly has changed our living standards to be much better than before.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($488 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I felt so happy and grateful the moment I received the money from GiveDirectly because it gave me the ability to address and meet the needs that were so pressing, which I had no ability at all to address. I am also glad that through the transfer, I was able to meet my basic needs like food and clothing without depending on anyone.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is building a more decent iron-roofed house for my family. I had no hope of ever building one like this since I do not have a stable source of income. I am happy that my children will be able to study in the evening when they come back from school since before they didn't have a conducive environment without disruptions.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Construction of an iron-roofed house was my priority when planning on how I would spend my transfer once I received it. After receiving the transfer, I spent a good amount on purchasing all building materials inclusive of labor. Our current house will serve as a kitchen once we move into our newly completed house. Using the remaining amount, I bought food, clothes and other household necessities for my family.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money would mean a rest for me from struggling to make ends meet in my old age. With little strength that remains right now in my old age I do not have time to rest because I have to keep looking for food for my family daily. My husband here is older than me and for him he can no longer leave the house to look for money so he has to depend on me fully. We would like to spend all the transfers to buy three dairy cows each worth KES. 35000. We shall be able to have milk to strengthen us nutritionally as we age and also we shall be able to make an income KES. 10000 from selling milk.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Every evening we stay by the fireplace with my husband reminiscing about our younger days, it makes our evenings so enjoyable and the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship has been having to survive without an income and continuous failure of crops thus forcing me to buy all the food we eat. In my old age right now I have to carry heavy poles on my head almost daily to a nearby market to sell them as firewood and it really wearies me. I make a meagre KES.100 for every pole sold which is just enough to last me for a meal or two.
