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 ($421 USD)
access_time 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
This year I am looking forward to invest in poultry farming and acquiring some farm animals preferably good since they are less costly compared to cows. Apart from that, I also have a daughter who just recently graduated from high school so I plan on enrolling her into college this year as well.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I'm quite grateful for the generosity I received from the organization especially since through the transfers I managed to enable my daughter to finish her high school. I'm also quite proud that my family and I are not cramped up like we were before in our previous house.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
This time around I decided that I would use the money to build a proper house for me and my family because the one we lived in was small for us. Therefore I proceeded to spend over KES 15,000 on purchasing thirty pieces of timber and ten pieces of iron sheets. I then proceeded to spend over KES 20,000 on paying tuition for my daughter who was in high school since she had a debt. As for the rest of the funds I decided to gradually spend on nutrition.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($477 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 7 in the evening when I was about to prepare our dinner when my phone started ringing. I couldn't read on my own I decided to ask my neighbor to confirm for me since all my children had gone to school. After checking she realized that I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy and blessed for the fortune because I knew I would buy goats and build a new house for my sons.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I am hopeful and happier. It has always been my wish to have livestock that I can lean on in case of any financial crisis. Before the coming of GiveDirectly, I had none and this has been stressing for a long. As a widow of three, it has been tough because I had so many bills to cater to and I only depended on odd jobs. If at all I could be owning one or two goats they would be of help by then. I am happy that the goats will not only benefit me but my children, especially in their education journey. This is the key reason that made me settle for the goats. I am hopeful that soon they will increase in number and have many of them.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my first transfer on paying school fees of KES 12000 for my son who is in secondary school. He is now studying peacefully without any challenges that he has been facing before. He used to miss exams regularly as a result of the arrears. Also, I bought building poles and all the required materials for the construction of a new house which cost around KES 14500. I had intended to construct a new house for my sons who are now teenagers. I am also planning to buy two goats from a friend which will serve as assets that I can depend on anytime. With the remaining cash, I have been buying foodstuff for my family that has been sustaining us for a couple of weeks.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My house is very old and weak. In addition to this, the walls have got multiple cracks which make the house unsafe for any person such that at times I struggle to earn a sleep because of its pathetic condition. I am planning to use 40,000KES to renovate my house. Furthermore, I will spend 35,000KES from the GiveDirectly transfers to educate my daughter who is in secondary school. Paying her fees in full means she will have enough study time in school and this will likely reflect positively on her academic performance. I will finally use 12,000KES to buy four goats each valued at 3,000KES for domestic rearing. I will later sell the goats to take my daughter to an institution of higher learning once she is done with her secondary school education.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I have been selling larger quantities of sand recently compared to the previous months and this has enabled me to earn handsome profits. With the cash I make, I am able to meet my family's basic needs such as food and clothing and this has brought joy in my life.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest challenge I'm facing currently is the lack of adequate money to educate my daughter. I hate it whenever I see my daughter home because I have been unable to pay her school fees on time. This has made me resort to energy-draining sand harvesting occupation which has had a negative implication on my health.
