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 ($421 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?
This year, I was planning to concentrate on farming so that I can earn some income and save towards buying another piece of land. Achieving this means that I will be getting higher income by next year and I will be able to buy dairy cows and expand my farming business.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
What GiveDirectly does well is uplifting lives of the poor in the community. The transformation of the village is so evident and we don't take that for granted.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Before I became a full time farmer, I was a fisherman in a nearby lake and life was a bit easier because I could sell fish and get some good money to take care of my family. Due to government regulation that prohibited farming on that certain lake, I had to stop what I loved doing and go back to farming. Although farming is something that I would have loved to do, there was no land for farming as I only owned a quarter piece of land that I inherited from my father. Therefore, I could only harvest 3 bags of maize which is only enough for my family of two( wife and one child) and I was left with nothing to sell . When I received my second transfer, I bought another quarter piece of land that I harvest five bags of maize in the last quarter. Although this land is still not enough for me, can get some income from it that I spend on paying some bills and I'm planning to save towards buying another piece of land. I'm so thankful to GiveDirectly for making this possible.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($478 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I received my money was around 6 am in the money and I was still sleeping.I was very happy, I woke up my wife and inform her of the transfers.She was very happy that she lost interest in sleeping and started singing celebration songs.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life now is that I am land owner which is very hard for a very young person like me and this has elated my status in my village and among my peers.I was congratulated by my old uncles and this made me very happy man.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my most recent transfer to buy land worth more than 55000 KES since my mother also chipped in to assist me.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I dropped out of school in class six out of lack of school fees. After, I went into casual jobs to earn a living and support my siblings. I, later on, joined fishing in a nearby water pan. This is what I have been doing to support my family. It is not a stable source of income since we sometimes just catch one small fish. I earn an average of KES 400 a day. I am happy about this since it has enabled me to build an iron-roofed house and to meet my household's daily basic needs. After getting married ten months ago, I have been struggling to buy a cow. This has not been possible with the overwhelming daily household needs. To me receiving this cash transfer means a dream come true. I am planning to use KES 20000 to buy a heifer. This is an asset to my family and from it will have milk. This will reduce my daily expenditures and we will have enough milk for consumption. This means good health among us and extra earnings from milk sales.
What is the happiest part of your day?
To make ends meet I practice farming to support the fishing. I prefer it since with good yields, I am certain of enough food in my household and reduce of daily expenditure. In the last six months, my happiness has been out of my maize plantation just out of my house. I love the good health they have. This is my hope of better yields come next harvesting. I am hopeful that I will enough food for my growing child.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The lack of a stable job is my main challenge. I am still young and energetic enough to engage income-generating activities. In my area we hardly find casual jobs and they are low paying. I had gotten better some years back but I would not continue since I did not have the required certificates. I feel my life would be better with a formal job.
