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 ($526 USD)
access_time almost 5 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 currently different in that I have been able to build a new house and bought a dairy cow for the family. These are two great investments that I have always been thinking about and which I had vowed to make them happen but due to financial challenges, I had not been able to actualize them. I feel so proud that I have now been able to actualize them and this has given me an opportunity to think about other valuable investments that will change our living standards positively in the long run.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly did so well in the way they educated us before we could receive this money. This removed any doubts that we earlier on had about the source and the motives of the money. They also gave us the freedom to choose how we were going to spend our money. This gave us the freedom to choose how we were going to spend the money to reap maximum benefits from it.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I used part of my first transfer to complete our newly built house and used the remainder to buy a dairy cow. We had always wanted to build a new house for the family especially now that we do not have the pressure of paying school fees for our children and these transfers were super helpful to us in fulfilling this dream. We also bought the dairy cow because we did not have one of our own and we ended up spending a lot of money to buy milk at the expense of other basic household needs. We feel we are going to be greatly relieved once the cow starts producing milk.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($531 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
Currently, I have a much decent house big enough to accommodate my entire family. The one we previously lived in was a small mud house which at times was hard to maintain it. as compared to the previous one. We had also started facing a shortage of specific type of soil to smear it
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I received the transfers, i was generally happy. I saw my dream of owning a more decent house to have come to pass.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent the money I received to construct a new house. I initially lived in a mud house and so decided to construct a timber house. Owning a timber house in my village is a big step in life. I also bought some household necessities such as water storage containers and kitchen utensils
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My community is rich in dairy milk production. For a long time, my desire has been to begin a milk vending business so as to leverage on the market force of demand in a nearby shopping centre. Upon receiving this transfer, I am going to invest in this venture for sustainable development of my family. Proceeds from this business will henceforth cater for the education of our children thus secure their future.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is late in the afternoon. This is the only quality time I treat myself to a good rest after weeding my maize in the farm since morning. Therefore I take great pleasure in this time knowing it is until the following day that I get to work in my farm again.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
In this community, livestock play a very big role in the lives of most families. They are a form of savings that we depend on to make income so as to fend for other household needs like food and the children's education. When my only dairy cow died about a year ago due to a severe drought, I was so worried that I would not get income to buy food for my family and thus subject them to malnutrition because of lack of other sources of income. This situation has taken a toll on my children physically and academically. This is the biggest hardship I've faced in my life. Thanks to GiveDirectly, I will be happy to own a cow again since I am planning to spend my first transfer on one.
