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
55000 KES ($448 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My dream in the near future is to expand my poultry business by buying an extra 2 acres. This would allow me to make sufficiently more money and in the future, give my kids a better life than we as their parents have had.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I was at one point the one handling the school fees and other expenses. Inflation has hit my husband's business and were it not for GiveDirectly stepping in when they did, I would have been lost. GiveDirectly are best at making the dreams of their recipients a reality. All I would ask is for them to continue to bless recipients for years to come
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The list of things I did with the transfers from GiveDirectly were quite diverse. I paid school fees, bought 2 female goats, extended my chicken coup and bought food for stocking up in the house. My husband works in clearing and forwarding, all the way in Canada. He comes every 7 years and while I keep layers and sell a crate of eggs for $4.5 and also till the land and harvest maize, beans and other cereals. The 60 chicken on the 3 acre farm I till, were the only source of income to cater for my bills such as the tuition fees for my second child in Timbilahai Secondary, which is $230. Thank God my eldest is a casual laborer in Vipingo and has a family of his own. With only one dependent, the funds were a welcome blessing to helping us achieve our goals.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($473 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was exactly 9 AM when I attended a seminar in my community about livestock when I saw two new messages on my phone. I had to check and to my surprise, I confirmed that it was from GiveDirectly me informing that I had received my first cash transfers. I felt so happy and thankful for knowing that I would finally send my son to school. I couldn't even wait for the meeting to adjourn and rush home to spread the news.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The fact that my son was able to go to secondary school has made my life to be different. This has been the biggest challenge considering that I am a widow who solely depends on odd jobs to make ends meet. On a good day, I used to earn which was not enough to cater for his fees and other basic needs like the foodstuffs. I have however been trying to seek assistance from friends and relatives but I was always unlucky. This led him to stay at home for weeks. All I can say is that this organization is God's sent. I still couldn't believe that my son would be at school this soon. I am thankful to GiveDirectly for fulfilling my dream of seeing my son get a good education and better grades. This is an assurance that his future is green and bright.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my first transfer on buying building materials such as iron sheets at KES 18000, and the labor charges of KES 5000. It was for the construction of my children who have been sleeping at their friend's houses which were far away from the village we lived in. It was so stressful during the rainy days because their friend's houses could leak terribly. Additionally, I cleared my son's school fees and bought all the necessary items for his addition at a total of KES 30000. I am so grateful because were it not for the support, he would still be at home. With the remaining amount, I bought foodstuffs for my family and settled the little pending bills.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I joined a poultry project which is coming up very well. However the project needs more capital which I had no idea where to get. I am now very glad since I plan to invest up to 100,000 KES to have a big poultry unit. I will construct a decent structure and increase the number of chicken from 60 to 200. My aim is being the biggest supplier of eggs and chicken products in this area.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The project that I started 5 months ago is now giving me returns. Although it's a project that was facilitated by the county government as a loan, there is some progress. I started with 60 chicken and in a few months I see hope of completing the loan amounting to 30,000 KES especially now that Give Directly has visited our village. I happy that the project is doing well and for the boost that I will be getting form Give Directly as well.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am a community health volunteer. This is more of voluntary work and therefore without another source of income it is very difficult making ends meet. My spouse passed on many years ago and I had to come back home because life became very difficult especially living with the inlaws. It's been 10 years now back home and my father passed on last year. We used to support each other financially but now that both of my parents are gone, I have a lot of burden since I have two children still depending on me and other relatives as well.
