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 ($424 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Milk has become incredibly expensive for my family of six, especially during the dry seasons when the only cow I obtained from a neighbor produces little milk. I rely on subsistence farming and occasionally sell surplus to pay household bills and school fees for my children. To ensure that my children have a steady supply of milk in the future, I plan to purchase a cow to supplement the small amount of milk produced by our only cow. I intend to make small monthly savings, and when I am ready, I intend to purchase a lactating cow that will provide us with milk in the future.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I understood GiveDirectly's clear information, which provided us with clear guidelines on all stages of enrollment and receiving both transfers. Even if some households were excluded, they would always inquire and be given a clear understanding in accordance with the strict guidelines that the officers were following at the time. The officers were good and professional at their jobs because they respected everyone in the village with their words and actions. Nothing should be changed in the future because everyone was pleased with the project.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After receiving the second transfer, I built a new kitchen to replace an old one that had been in use for three to five years. I spent $150 on construction materials and labor charges to complete the entire construction. I also paid $30 in school fees for my daughter, who was in form three at the time, and I am grateful that she had enough time to study and pass her form four exams. I also paid the primary school tuition for my other four children. Furthermore, I spent the remaining funds on food for my family of six, which we consumed for a month before replenishing.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($483 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I saw the message from Givedirectly in the evening that day. Earlier in the day I had heard people claim that they had received the transfers that we were promised. This made me anxious all day and when I finally got mine, I felt so happy. I took my time before I could withdraw as I reorganized myself on how I was going to spend the money. I am still very grateful that Givedirectly has changed my life by a great extent.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Having received this money and bought building materials to be able to start building a new house is a dream come true for me. I have been having the desire to build a bigger and better house but I did not have the ability to do so. The casual work that I do could only enable me to buy food for my family and often left us with very little or no amount at all to save. Things got even more difficult when I lost my husband and everything is all dependent on me.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used almost all of the money that I received to buy building materials. I bought Iron sheets, nails,door frames and other building materials worth approximately KES 50000. The KES 5000 that remained were used to buy food and other basic household commodities for my family. During this period and even up to now, my five children have been able to eat well and stay healthy like other children from the well to do families. I chose to build a new house since the one that I currently stay in is too small and is grass thatched. I am looking forward to getting the second transfer so that I can be able to complete the construction of this house.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am a widow and a mother of six, currently having a household of five members. Subsistence farming is my major economic activity having not gone past the primary level in education. I work hard to make sure my children go to school so that they could one-day live better. Due to limited resources, my three eldest children dropped out of school. I felt so bad knowing that I have failed as a parent. Currently, I have a daughter in secondary school and the youngest in the primary. Receiving this money means access to education for my children. I am planning to spend KES 40000 to pay their fee. My joy is to see them acquire basic education and later join colleges. This will be a dream come true to me. I am planning to spend the remaining amount to construct a decent, spacious house.
What is the happiest part of your day?
We have grouped ourselves in the village into different merry-go-rounds with the aim that we pull together our resources to meet our needs. I joined one with ninety-two members each contributing KES 120 in total we accumulate KES 11040. Recently, my turn came and members did not disappoint. I was able to collect KES 10000 after deducting some amount to settle the D-Day expenses. This is what brought joy to my life in the last six months. I went ahead to pay my daughter's school fee and I was so relieved.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The lack of a stable source of income is a major problem for me. I am window relying on subsistence farming. I love education this is why I struggle to see my children in school. Paying school fee and meeting our daily household needs is so stressful to me with the scarce resource I have.
