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 ($478 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?
Since receiving this transfer, I have had a new desire to start a business, especially a kiosk. I depend on casual labour to earn a living, which can be very exhausting and the earnings are just too little. I now feel that starting my business will enable me to earn a decent income that will enable me to meet my family's needs.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly is a wonderful organisation. In my opinion, its operations are smooth, and the staff are very kind. It has helped to improve our lives by empowering us to meet our family's basic needs.
In my experience, there isn't anything that GiveDirectly does not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Until a few weeks ago, my family used to buy milk every day at KES 60 a litre. This was too costly for us, especially since I am a casual labourer who earns KES 500 a day if I am lucky to get work. So I spent KES 30,000 of the transfer to buy a dairy cow that can supply us with milk. I then spent KES 20,000 on tilling the land where I planted maize, to ensure we have enough for the household. I'm grateful for the progress made so far.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($502 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was still early in the morning when I received the Mpesa message and since I was busy tilling my land, I did not bother checking it's contents. When I finally read the message, I became so happy and I began singing praises to God for coming to my rescue. I knew that with the transfers, I would finally be able to fulfill my goals.
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 now live a life full hopes. This is because whenever I look at my dairy cow while feeding it, I know that very soon, I will not be buying milk anymore rather, I will be earning money through the sale of surplus. In addition, it has given me a reason to live and work harder since I know that apart from tending to my farm, I have to look for the livestock feeds.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used to spend KES 50 daily in buying milk from my neighbors and I would at times take them on credit and pay at the end of the month. This is costly to me since I depend on subsistence farming where I majorly plant maize, tomatoes, kales and beans. We sometimes experience prolonged drought and these crops do not do well. When I received my transfer, spent the entire amount to purchase a dairy cow, three goats and 10 chicken. I am now glad since my cow is almost calving and I will be able to earn some income to use in meeting some of my daily needs. Also, I decided to buy the goats and chicken since they can easily be converted to cash when faced with financial crisis.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My ambition is be able to get some skills in masonry and make a living out of it. But at the moment it is not easy because I had an accident while at work in Mombasa that rendered me not to do heavy duty work.My former employer was to cater for my medical bill since the accident brought about many health complications but he has been very reluctant. I was forced to go back to my village and started doing casual jobs and subsistence farming. The Give Directly transfer will aid me in purchasing some livestock and poultry. This will come in handy especially when emergency arises I can sell a cow or chicken and carter for those needs.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Each day I wake up early in the morning and prepare for what the day brings. I am never guaranteed on getting a job each day and so, sometimes I work on my small piece of land doing some farming. But each day I would say I am the happiest in the evenings because I get to be sure I can have a meal on my table and the day has ended well while I am in good health.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in my life has been health issues that resulted to unemployment. After getting into an accident while at I work I developed some health complications that lagged me behind in looking for work since I can not do a lot of heavy duty work. My head was injured as well as my knees and so I can't stand for so long when working. This has made it hard for me to get regular jobs, no one wants an employee who can not perform well everyday.
