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 ($494 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Receiving this money attracted lots of happiness to me and my family. This is because we have managed to meet some of the pressing issues we have been facing. Having a new kitchen, paying school fees for my child, wearing new and decent attire as well as eating well are some of the key elements that have brighten our lives.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly does well by offering the grants in lump sums. This would allow us to acquire some of the otherwise expensive items. Also, I find nothing that GiveDirectly doesn't do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I utilized 150 USD of my second transfer on building a new kitchen since the one we had was too old with a leaking roof. Also, we spent 7USD on acquiring more furniture because the ones we had were inadequate. Further, I used 100 USD on educating my son who has just joined university. We bought livestock worth 60 USD as an investment. We also bought clothes using 50 USD because the ones we had were old and torn. We used the remainder on getting more food items since we were almost exhausting our stock.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($496 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I saw the Mpess notification was around 7 am and I was very excited and relayed the good news to my family and we were very excited. Because I had an sick limb I sent my son to withdraw for me the next day.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is purchase of a TV which enables me to relax and watch news hence reduced stress. Earlier, I used to rely on a small radio for news. I have also bought a solar lighting system hence enhanced lighting. I used to get news from a small radio but now I get my news from a TV and now I am happier than before.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent 50 dollars of my transfer on cementing my water tank because it was on top of timber but cement is durable. I spent 100 dollars on a three 3-seater sofasets because initially I had one 3-seater sofaset. This will help reduce chances of borrowing seats when there are many visitors in my house. I spent 60 dollars on two goats because they grow fast and in future will be sold in exchange for a dairy cow. 50 Dollar was spent on hiring a tractor to plough my farm and on maize and bean seeds. 100 dollars I spent on solar lighting system and a television.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means that our economic status will be boosted. We have been depending on subsistence farming where we grow Maize in our one acre piece of land. Nearly all the produce from this has been assisting us to cater for school fees hence we have been struggling to cater for our basic needs. This transfer will assist us to purchase a cow from which we will be able to get milk to sell and get an income.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Evening is the happiest part of my day. It is at this time because I will get time to rest from my various activies of ploughing the land. This work requires alot of energy hence it so tiresome.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Our biggest hardship we have faced in our life is lack of enough food to sustain our family. For some years now, certain disease affect our maize plants this let us to harvest little and this has been our only source of income.
