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 ($436 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?
Boosting my grocery business is the goal that I have in the coming year. I intend to boost the capital for the business. Achieving this goal will ensure more profit that will lower the burden of providing for the family. Furthermore, the long-term goal is to purchase a piece of land in the village where we would make our home. At the moment, the place we are living is very small and communally owned. This will enable us to have a place we call ours and the kids will be proud of it.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, Givedirectly did well in enrolling only the qualified households in the program. Through this, it reduced the complaints of bias since the people who deserved the aid were enrolled. All the processes were conducted well and in a fair manner and there is nothing I feel they should improve.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
For more than 2 years, I have desired to boost my livestock rearing so that it may be a stable source of livelihood for our family. I had only one goat at the beginning. After receiving the recent transfer, I prioritized achieving this ambition by purchasing 5 more goats for $160 in total. At the moment, I am happy owning 6 goats with two being expectant. This is also a future investment that will support me in educating my 2 children. Additionally, I use $150 to support the education of our kids who are in a private primary school. Nowadays, they are learning without frequently missing classes after clearing all their fee arrears and also paying for their next term. With the remaining amount, I started a small grocery business in the village where I am selling vegetables like spinach, tomatoes and cabbages. The income from this activity is helping me in meeting some of the small basic needs of the family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($481 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was in the evening and I was collecting firewood inorder to prepare supper for my family. As I was about to leave for home, I heard a message ringtone and I thought to myself, that might be the transfers because I have been waiting eagerly. Indeed it was the transfers, I was so happy and shared the good news with my husband who was also overjoyed.
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 am able to provide three meals per day to my family and the livestock that I bought makes my household look more active.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I lost all my livestock to severe drought last year and I had lost hope in owning livestock because I'm a housewife and I totally depend on my husband whose a subchief and has a lot in his basket. He has fees to pay and cater for other basic needs yet he earns a very low income. When we were enrolled in the program, my husband and I had planned to by some few goats to start it off again. I spend KES 25000 to buy six goats, KES 3000 to clear school fees balance, KES 3000 to buy food and I have saved the balance for a project that we are thinking to come up with.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
A good education for my children is the greatest ambition I have. I am a mother of two children. The firstborn is already schooling. Due to unemployment, I struggle to pay his school fees. To overcome this, I intend to buy 10 goats at KES 3,000 each. By the time my children will be joining post-primary education, the goats will have doubled in numbers. I will no longer be stressed, I will just sell a few goats and pay their school fees.
What is the happiest part of your day?
For more than a year, this area had not received even a single drop of rainfall. This caused serious drought. It was very hot. Cows were the most affected. They died due to a lack of water and pasture. We received heavy rains over the festive season ( December 2021). I was very happy. The weather became conducive and water for consumption was readily available for the livestock.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Unemployment has made it very challenging in sustaining my family of two children. My 8 year old firstborn is already in school and I struggle to pay his tuition fees ( KES 2,000 per term). I used to actively engage in subsistence farming but due to lack of rains, I had no other option other than depending on my husband. My husband works as an assistant chief, with a huge burden of responsibility caused by the polygamous setting of our household, he is always overwhelmed by responsibilities.
