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
53150 KES ($493 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 had I not received the transfer. This is because my children were not sent back home for school fees anymore. This was possible since I was able to use my transfer to clear their fee arears on time. Also, my life is different since I now live in a more spacious house hence I now enjoy my privacy.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly does well by uplifting people through cash transfer and I do not see anything that they do not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 30,000 from my transfer to buy a dairy cow. I settled on this so that I would not be buying milk anymore and to also earn some income through the sale of milk. Using the remaining amount I bought some food, household necessities and clothes for my family.
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 around 2pm on the 17th of December 2020 just after lunch while relaxing outside under a shade when I heard a SMS alert in my phone. On checking my phone, it was GD transfers and we were overwhelmed with joy. Immediately we prepared and went to the nearest MoMo agent.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is building a house which I had desired to have for the past ten years but couldn't afford but now I am grateful. My family life has changed because nowadays we sleep comfortably and my kids read comfortably without being affected by smoke. I am also happy because GD transfers have relieved of school fees burdens which I normally pay in bits from maize and onions farming proceeds. I am also grateful and stress free because the food stock bought using the transfers will sustain me for a longer period because sometimes during heavy rains my planted maize are carried due to my land terrain.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 30,000 on building a two roomed 24 Iron roofed semi permanent house which is currently more spacious and can access clean water. Initially, the house I had was old, tiny, and with a grass thatched roof. I also spent KES 10,000 on school fees payment for my daughter in her third year of high school. I spent KES 10,000 on food and household items in order to avert hunger because the maize stock was depleted.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money will mean so much to me and my family. I have young children who are in dire need of a nutritious diet for them to grow strong and healthy. Right now I cannot afford them milk and they are in a risk of suffering from Kwashiorkor and other diet-related deficiencies. This situation is giving me sleepless nights and I feel like something urgent needs to be done to arrest this crisis before it gets out of hand. My top priority right now is to buy a quality cow to give me a reliable source of milk. This will cost me a total of 35000 shillings. From it, I am certain of getting 5-7 liters of milk every single morning. This will guarantee my children a healthy life that is free from diseases caused by malnutrition.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I always find happiness in my afternoons. This is the time I take a rest from the mornings hard work in the farm.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I live in a single-roomed house that cannot accommodate my entire family. The house serves as a kitchen, bedroom and at the same time living room. In our culture, it is wrong for grown children to sleep in the same house as parents. Every evening my daughters are forced to go to my neighbor's house to have sleep. Going out in the evening is often dangerous for them and at times I have to escort them to ensure that they get there safely. One day they were almost raped as they made their way and this has made me think of a way I can solve this problem but up to now I do not know how to go around this.
