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
55000 KES ($436 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
check
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I am happy that we currently saving about KES 100 daily of our family income that we used to buy milk. We will not struggle during planting season as we will have money to buy farm inputs. This will help us mitigate the challenge of perennial food shortages in my household.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
We were used to the tune of empty promises from our leaders. We never thought that GiveDirectly will live as per their word. One month after enrollment, happiness was in the air in our village. People received their transfers. This was unbelievable as we used to wait for ages to see what our leaders promised. Many households spent their transfers on buying food. I wish that GiveDirectly will one day think of a project focusing on food resilience in our area.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Milk is a nutritious meal and does not miss to be on our table. Unfortunately, the price of milk is now expensive selling for up to KES 50 per liter. When I received my second transfer, my thoughts is to spend KES 35000 to buy a cow for my family. I am happy that we are no longer using our little family income to buy milk. I have been scratching my head about where to get money to buy clothing and food for the family. I saw a perfect opportunity when I received my second transfer. We went to Chebunyo market and bought clothes and food for ourselves.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($476 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 8 am while taking breakfast when I heard my phone ring. On checking, my helper confirmed that I had received KES 55,000 from GiveDirectly. I was very happy with the transfers and withdrew two days later.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I received the transfers is the availability of adequate food for my family. This is because I used to rely on my son who is a teacher after completing campus for food. There's no more stress due to lack of food since the transfers came right on time.
Secondly, is the addition of a second dairy cow which I had desired for the past four years when my son was in college.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received the transfers I bought a dairy cow at KES 35, 000 as an addition to the one I had. This is because currently it's at its low season and the new one is due. This, therefore, acts as an alternative milk source.
Secondly, I spent KES 2,000 on plowing an acre of land, KES 1650 on three packets of certified maize seeds, and KES 1,250 on beans seeds. This is because earlier I used to rely on local seeds and my working kids for farm inputs.
Thirdly, I spent KES 4,000 on a bag of maize meals. This is due to severe hunger in our area and earlier I could afford only two kilos of maize meal a day.
Lastly, I spent KES 10,000 on clothing, shoes, and beddings. These are more expensive and decent than the previous ones.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Every individual deserves comfortable housing. In my community, most of the houses are mud-walled therefore, bringing about the competition on acquiring soil to smear. I am not an exception for this case as I have to purchase 10kg of soil weekly at KES 100 from the neighbouring village. Even though I am a farmer, I have no surplus to earn income and therefore I go the extra mile to sell the eggs to earn income. It's for this course that I have been yearning for a timber walled house but unfortunately, finances could not accommodate. I am glad that my dream will come to pass as I intend to use KES 50000 of these transfers to renovate my 2 roomed house. I will be excited that I will not be making round trips to purchase soil and hence save the money for other family needs.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I was excited 4 months ago when my only cow calved. I usually milk 2 litres daily, of which I sell 1 litre at KES 30 to the milk vendor. I am excited that I have a source of income to purchase food for my family of 3. I am delighted that my household has been food secure since then.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
As a breadwinner, I depend solely on subsistence farming to support my family of 3. Whereas farming is that families pillar, the climatic conditions in my area have been unfavourable for crop production. In a year, my 0.8acre of land I have set aside for cultivation only produces 2 bags of maize that last the household 3 months. It saddens me that I have to depend on my children once that product is depleted. I am afraid that I am a bother to them since they have other responsibilities with them.
