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 ($493 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is different than how it would have been if I never received the transfers in that I have bought a goats and heifer. This is the investment I have always wished to own. Owning a cow and a goat in our village is the greatest. Goats reproduce twice per year and it really helps whenever there is an emergency. We sell them and get money to spend. The heifer when it reproduce I will no longer buy milk which is so expensive for me. I do small scale farming and due to my old age I no longer do the casual jobs. The money that I get through this farming is so small and could not enabled me to get a dairy cow. When I received the second transfer I decided to invest on livestock. I am so grateful for the support because GiveDirectly has changed our living standard, it has given me hope to still strive for greatness and better things.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly does well by giving money to the poor in the community to build better. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of the money I received from GiveDirectly on purchasing a Heifer, a goat and I also started poultry keeping project. This project will earn me an income through the sales of eggs. The rest of the money I used it on food and clothes for my family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($494 USD)
access_time almost 4 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was at home in the morning when I heard an SMS alert on my phone. I checked it and I saw an M-pesa message saying that I had received the transfer that GiveDirectly had promised. I was filled with lots of happiness and I celebrated. I said thank you to God and GiveDirectly for helping me.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
This transfer has brought a difference in my life. I was able to buy half a bag of maize that I am going to consume for quite some time and thus I will not be having any worry about food shortage. I will take care of my cows and goats. When the cows reproduce and multiply in number, I will be able to sell some calves and use the money on other important things. The goats too will be of great help to me. When they reproduce, I will be able to get milk that will act as a substitute for the cow’s milk when they are not lactating. Thank you GiveDirectly for helping me.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
This transfer from GiveDirectly has helped me a lot. I was able to buy a cow, two goats, and three chickens that I want to rear. I was also able to buy half a bag of maize with part of the transfer. With the little amount that I still have, I plan to use it on buying small things such as buying vegetables and some foodstuffs for everyday use. The reason why I decided to buy maize, is because I did not have food to eat. I am living alone because my wife passed on and I have grown old. I no longer have the strength to till the whole of my land and hence I only till a small portion where I grow some few crops. I had another cow and a few goats but I wanted to add some more so that they can help me in the future when they reproduce.
Enrolled
access_time 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money will mean a lot to me. I have a strong desire to own a dairy cow which will give me milk every morning. At the moment, I buy 2 liters of milk every day for 30 shillings a liter. This translates to 1800 shillings each month. Raising that amount, considering my age, is an uphill task. To get out of my current circumstances, I plan to buy a dairy cow worth 30000 shillings. From it, I will have at least 5 liters of milk every day.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I am always happy during the day because I get to spend time with neighbors who come to give me company, unlike in the evening when I am all by myself. Being with them has constantly been the source of happiness because they give me hope of a better tomorrow.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Life is full of hardships and one that will remain with me for as long as I live is having to lose my wife. Ever since she died my life has never been the same. My life is full of sorrow, stress and loneliness. I have no one to talk to and I deal with every challenge I encounter single-handedly. The gap that she left in my life is so big that no one will ever fill. I pray that God gives me the strength to come to terms with the loss because without her in my life makes living boring.
