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 ($506 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Having have sent my children to school has been made the biggest. I really don't think it would have managed to raise the whole amount of money which was needed for them to go to school if it were not for GiveDirectly. Apart from that the goats that I now own as assets, I will depend on them just in case if any emergency.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirxctlu did everything swell to us by uplifting our living started. Since we were given the opportunity to choose what to buy, everyone planned in what he or she has been willing to have. I do not see any sector GD failed us.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent a larger part of my second transfer on paying some school fees for my children who are both in secondary school. Actually the money came at the right time because I was stuck, I had no idea of what I could do. I am now happy because I managed to send them back to school after staying home for a while. The remaining amount of money I bought enough foodstuffs for my family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($542 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
Having goats is the biggest difference and gift that I have ever received in my life. I settled on rearing goats because they reproduce twice a year and their offsprings mature faster compared to any other domestic animals thus they will multiply and increase in number within a short period of time. I plan to sell some in our local markets to raise money to meet family needs with my children's education being the most. Apart from that, I will exchange some in the near future with a dairy cow. Having a cow will provide milk for both consumption and economic purposes through milk sales to earn an extra income. I thank GiveDirectly for making a positive impact on my life.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was awoken by a loud vibration from my mobile phone and I immediately asked my helper to confirm who might have sent a message at such an hour. Upon checking, she realized it was a Mpesa message confirming that I had received money from GiveDirectly. I was overexcited because at first, I thought it was a scam from the experience I had from the previous NGOs.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent part of my first transfer to buy goats. I see them as added assets that I can readily rely on in case of a financial crisis. I have had a desire to keep some in my compound but due to my poverty life, I could not afford them. I then bought a bed and a mattress to replace my old tradition beddings. I have been sharing with my little children a few traditional beddings resulting in some discomfort and back pains. I then cleared a huge fee balance for my children that had accrued. My little resource could not allow me to pay their fee in full causing them a lot of interruption through being sent home frequently to collect money. I later hired my neighbors to plough my farm so that I could plant on time. I expect a better harvest due to better preparation and planting on time. In addition, I took some amount to start a business of selling some fish from door to door. I am so glad the business is doing so well earning me a better income that I use to improve my family. With the remaining amount of money, I bought enough foodstuffs for my family that would last for weeks.
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am a widow and a sole breadwinner for the family. My activities are to work in construction sites in order to get our daily meals not to mention school fees which is the biggest burden on me. This job is unreliable since working in a day is by chance yet its income is rarely enough to sustain the needs of my family. Receiving this money means starting my longest desired job of selling fried fish and therefore, I will use utmost Ksh8000 as the capital for my job for the start. My second priority is to pay $200 on paying my daughter's school fees which includes some arrears. The remaining transfers will help me to buy goats to serve as a long term investment that will help me to cater my future expenses. This will enable me to take care of my family with minimal challenge thus, a better living.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Evening is the happiest part of my day since it is at this time when I have something for my family to eat. In the morning, I usually work on my farm and at around 8 o'clock, I am required to go and search for the work that can give me income for my family, something that makes the afternoon being the tiresome part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of a reliable source of income is the biggest hardship that I have ever faced in my life. My husband died 11 years ago something that forced me to take the responsibility of raising my four children single-handedly. This has challenged me a lot especially in sustaining our basic needs like school fees, food, and clothing. My children's uniforms are toned, a condition that shames them in school and this has resulted in poor performance due to low self-esteem. In addition, most of the time they are sent out of school due to lack of fee.
