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 ($491 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I would still be living in my small one room house that served us as a kitchen, living room and a bedroom at night. I am now glad since the transfers enabled me to build a two room house and I am now using my previous house as a kitchen. Also, I was able to practice timely farming and did large scale cultivation this year as I was able to hire one acre of land for two years. Due to this, I am optimistic that my family will be having enough food throughout this period and in the coming years. Having been able to achieve all these makes my life different than how it would have been had I not received the transfer.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my own opinion, GiveDirectly does well by giving financial aid to everyone and I do not see anything that they do not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received my transfer, I spent KES 30000 to purchase a dairy cow. Buying milk has been my daily routine and it is costly as I have to spend KES 50 daily without having bought anything else. I will be able to save this money or use itb on something when my cow calves. I spent the remaining amount on food and other household necessities. I bought two sacks of maize, rice, sugar and clothes for my children.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($501 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was very excited and the first person I told was my wife who doubted it and wanted to confirm by looking at the message. When she saw the confirmation message, she was overjoyed and could not keep calm.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I now have a separate kitchen from the main house unlike before when we used to sleep and cook from the same house. I am also very happy every morning when I take my goats to graze. I bought the goats because they multiply very fast and in no time, I can sell them and can cater for other needs.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I built a new house for my family. I also bought two goats and 2 bags of maize and a seat. I also shopped new clothes for my children who were very excited when they saw the new clothes.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money will mean that I will use 250USD to buy a dairy cattle to supplement my family with milk products. I also intend to use 300USD to construct a spacious house so that we can have enough space to cook, sleep and sit. My self employment journey will kick start by using the remainder of the transfer to buy sheep and goats which I will keep them and as they multiply, sell them and use the proceeds to sustain my family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Since I am a gardener, a chunk of my usual day is spent on other people's farms. My happiest part of the day is in the morning when I wake up, go look for a casual job and land one. This always gives me a surety that my family will have something to take for supper.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I have a young family that is solely dependent on me. I decided to look for a casual job of working on other people's farm as a gardener. This does not offer me and my family a regular flow of income since there is no surety of getting one the following day. Living with the fear/likelihood on not having a job the next day is always the biggest hardship I experience.
