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 ($510 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?
My life is different than how it would have been if I never received the transfers in that I paid all the school fees for my children in various schools. I do construction jobs and the money that I get through this is so small and cannot meet all the household expenditure including paying school fees. My children used to be sent home to collect school fees and this was affecting their performance since lessons were on going. I was so worried about this. When I received the second transfer I found it wise to pay school fees first before other projects. My children studied for that term without being sent home. This led to improving their grades in school. On my side I had peace of mind to do my daily activities without being disturbed. I saved some money in merry go round group that we have started in our village to enable me to pay for the next term school fees. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has changed our living standard.
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 houses and to buy dairy cows. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spend part of the money I received from GiveDirectly on school fees for my children in various schools. I am so happy because they were able to study well without being sent home to collect the school fees. I also started a business ,this will be a source of income to meet other basic household needs. The rest of the money I bought food for the family and tools for my work as a masonry. I am so grateful for the support.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($501 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was at 2pm and I was headed to a hardware to buy a few items for my customer. I heard a message notification and it was GD transfer and I got very excited . I was happy and I am still happy.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference is that I was able to pay off school fees arrears for my 2 children. I am a mason and so many people have been calling me to build them houses since they received transfers and they are building houses. This has made me make a lot of money from the masonry work.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I built a house for my son and bought food for my family. We also expanded our small business and saved some money to pay school fees for my children who are in secondary school
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Since I do not have a formal job, receiving this money means that my dream project of rearing poultry for commercial purposes shall materialize. Precisely, I will utilize the money on building a poultry structure and acquiring some birds and their feeds. I would choose poultry farming since I find that there exists a ready and nearby market for mature birds. Eventually, we shall be enjoying high income, and thus leading a better lifestyle as a family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening when I have returned home and found my jovial and healthy family members. Since I usually wake up at down to visit my work stations as a casual laborer in the construction industry, I feel isolated from my family the whole day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My firstborn daughter started suffering from ulcers and muscle problems at a tender age. As such, we had to sell virtually everything we had acquired, including the only cow we had, to raise the needed medication funds. Though we thank God that she is currently healed, we feel that the ailment was the biggest setback in regards to our development.
