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 ($443 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My new goal is to buy a piece of land. This is because the land that we are living in is so small such that it is hardly enough for us to practice farming yet it is the main economic activity that we can engage in and make our lives better.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly did well by helping everyone unconditionally within the village and for giving people the freedom to choose how to spend the money. This unconditional aspect gave everyone an opportunity to choose wisely how the money was going to be of benefit to them. I did not find anything that I thought GiveDirectly could improve or change. Everything to me was good in how they conducted themselves.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used KES 30000 to buy a dairy cow and used the remaining amount to buy food and other basic household needs for my family. We normally rely on my husband who works as a security for a company in the city to meet all our needs as a family. I feel so much indebted to have been part of the beneficiaries of this program and that for once I have been able to give a helping hand to my husband.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($484 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was around 6.30pm while preparing supper, when I heard an SMS alert on my phone. On checking, I confirmed to have received the eagerly awaited KES55000 GiveDirectly transfers. I was very excited and ate dinner that evening joyfully.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving the transfers is purchase of construction materials for extending my current house. I had desired to expand my house for the past one year but I couldn't afford. Through the transfers, I have also managed to buy food in bulk which can sustain my family for the next three months hence reduced household expenditure. I normally rely on my husband who works as security guard to sustain my family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 20000 on construction materials for expansion of my current house because it's quite tiny to accommodate many visitors.
I spent KES7500 on household furniture because I had a few seats but no table table at all. I also spent KES4000 on a sack of maize in order to reduce daily household expenditure and KES2000 on latest clothing fashion. I have saved the rest for starting house construction.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
We are a young couple with one child and two years in marriage .My husband gave away his 2 cows as pride price during our marria ge. Since then we have been purchasing for of KES 1800 a month because no dairy cow was left with him. Buying milk daily is costly and has led us into huge debt, this brings shame and embarrassment to us. Receiving this money means I can purchase a dairy cow worth KES 45000. With this, I foresee a production of 6 liters a day which will earn me an approximate amount of KES 6000 a month.This means financial stability as well as food availability to my household.
What is the happiest part of your day?
For a long time, we have been living in a single house, using it like the kitchen, bedroom, and guest room. Early this year my husband constructed a new house using his savings from the security job he got last year.This has given me joy in the past 6 months because I can comfortably host visitors as well as have privacy in my home.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Unemployment is the biggest challenge am currently facing. I depend on my husband to provide for all the needs of my baby and I.Dependance on one source of income is very risky especially with a young child who demands a lot in terms of food, clothing, drugs and personal items.Because of limited incomes and numerous needs we have run into debt within the neighbouring shopping centres.This worries me a lot and I do not have peace of mind whenever the creditors ask for their money.
